director
“director” means “director” in Spanish. It has 4 different meanings depending on context:
director, principal, manager
Also: head
📝 In Action
El director de la escuela dio un discurso.
A2The school principal gave a speech.
Hablé con la directora de Recursos Humanos.
B1I spoke with the Human Resources director.
Nuestro director general es muy joven.
B2Our CEO is very young.
director
📝 In Action
¿Quién es el director de esta película?
B1Who is the director of this movie?
La directora de la obra de teatro agradeció al público.
B1The director of the play thanked the audience.
Mi director de cine favorito es Guillermo del Toro.
B2My favorite film director is Guillermo del Toro.
conductor
📝 In Action
El director de orquesta levantó la batuta.
B2The orchestra conductor raised the baton.
La directora del coro es muy talentosa.
B2The choir conductor is very talented.
directing, steering
📝 In Action
El comité director se reúne mañana.
C1The steering committee meets tomorrow.
La junta directora aprobó el presupuesto.
C1The board of directors approved the budget.
El principio director de la empresa es la honestidad.
C2The company's guiding principle is honesty.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "director" in Spanish:
conductor→directing→director→head→manager→principal→steering→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: director
Question 1 of 2
If someone says, 'La directora del coro es fantástica,' what is her job?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin word 'director,' which means 'one who guides or sets in a straight line.' It's built from the verb 'dirigere,' which means 'to make straight' or 'to guide.' You can see the family resemblance to English words like 'direct,' 'direction,' and 'directory.'
First recorded: Around the 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I say 'female director' in Spanish?
It's easy! You just change the ending. 'Director' is for a man, and 'directora' is for a woman. Remember to also change the little word before it: 'el director' becomes 'la directora'.
What's the main difference between 'director' and 'jefe'?
'Director' is a formal job title for the head of a company, school, or department. 'Jefe' (or 'jefa' for a woman) is a more general word for 'boss.' Your direct manager might be your 'jefe,' but the head of the whole company is the 'director general.' You can call almost any boss 'jefe,' but only certain people are 'directores'.
Can I use 'director' for a bus driver?
No, that's a common mix-up with the English word 'conductor'! In Spanish, a driver is 'un conductor' (or 'una conductora'). An orchestra leader is 'un director de orquesta.' They sound similar but have very different meanings.