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conservador

kohn-sehr-bah-DOHR/konseɾβaˈðoɾ/

“conservador” means “conservative” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

conservative

Also: cautious, traditional
An elderly person wearing a traditional suit and a classic hat, sitting in a vintage wooden chair.

📝 In Action

Mi abuelo es un hombre muy conservador.

A1

My grandfather is a very conservative man.

El banco nos dio un cálculo conservador de las ganancias.

B1

The bank gave us a cautious estimate of the profits.

Prefiero un estilo de vestir más conservador para la oficina.

B1

I prefer a more traditional dressing style for the office.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • tradicionalista (traditionalist)
  • prudente (prudent/cautious)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • partido conservador – conservative party
  • cálculo conservador – safe/cautious estimate
  • ambiente conservador – conservative environment

curator

Also: preserver
NounmB2formal
Spain
A person wearing white gloves carefully examining a gold statue in a museum setting.

📝 In Action

El conservador del museo está restaurando una estatua.

B2

The museum curator is restoring a statue.

Hablamos con el conservador de la biblioteca sobre los libros antiguos.

C1

We spoke with the library keeper about the old books.

Es un gran conservador de la naturaleza.

B2

He is a great preserver of nature.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • curador (curator)
  • restaurador (restorer)

Common Collocations

  • conservador de museo – museum curator
  • conservador de bienes culturales – cultural heritage restorer

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "conservador" in Spanish:

cautious→conservative→curator→preserver→traditional→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: conservador

Question 1 of 3

If a bank gives you a 'cálculo conservador', are they being risky or cautious?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
conservar(to preserve/keep) — Verb
conservación(preservation) — Noun
conservadurismo(conservatism) — Noun
conserva(canned food/preserve) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'conservare', which combines 'con-' (together) and 'servare' (to keep or guard). It literally means 'to keep something together safely'.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: conservativeFrench: conservateurItalian: conservatore

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'conservador' always a political word?

No. While it is used for politics, it very commonly describes a cautious personality or a safe financial strategy.

What is the difference between 'curador' and 'conservador'?

In many parts of Latin America, 'curador' is used for a museum curator. In Spain, 'conservador' is the standard official term for that job.

Does 'conservador' change if I'm talking about a woman?

Yes. While this entry is for the masculine form, if you describe a woman or a feminine object, you use 'conservadora'.