director
/dee-rek-TOR/
director
Director/a often refers to the principal of a school or the head of a company department.
director(Noun)
director
?of a company, department
,principal
?of a school (in many regions)
,manager
?head of a section
head
?general term for a leader
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Making it Feminine
This word changes for a woman. For a female director, you say 'la directora'. Remember to change 'el' to 'la' too!
❌ Common Pitfalls
`Director` vs. `Gerente`
Mistake: "Using `director` for a store manager."
Correction: For a store, restaurant, or bank branch manager, it's more common to say 'el gerente'. 'Director' is usually for someone higher up, like the head of a whole company or a large department.
⭐ Usage Tips
Titles and Names
When addressing someone formally, you can use 'Director' as a title, just like 'Mr.' or 'Dr.' For example: 'Buenos días, Director Pérez.'
Director is also used for a film or theater director who guides the creative process.
📝 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.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
If you're already talking about movies, you can just say 'el director'. If the context isn't clear, it's better to say 'el director de cine' to be specific.
In music, director de orquesta means 'orchestra 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.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Don't Confuse with `Conductor`
Mistake: "El conductor de la orquesta."
Correction: While not technically wrong, 'el director de orquesta' is much more common. Be careful, because in Spanish, 'conductor' usually means 'driver' (of a car, bus, etc.). Using it for music can cause confusion.
As an adjective, director/a describes something that is guiding or steering, like a 'guiding principle.'
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Matching the Noun
When used this way, 'director' acts like any other adjective. It comes after the noun and must match its gender. For a 'feminine' word like 'junta' (board), you use 'directora'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Mostly for Groups
You'll almost always see this adjective describing a group or concept that provides direction, like a 'comité' (committee), 'junta' (board), or 'idea' (idea).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: director
Question 1 of 2
If someone says, 'La directora del coro es fantástica,' what is her job?
📚 More Resources
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.