especialista
“especialista” means “specialist” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
specialist, expert
Also: pro
📝 In Action
Necesitas ver a un especialista del corazón.
A2You need to see a heart specialist.
Ella es una especialista en marketing digital.
B1She is an expert in digital marketing.
El técnico es un especialista en reparar estos motores.
A2The technician is a specialist in repairing these engines.
specialist, expert
Also: specialized
📝 In Action
El equipo necesita un conocimiento especialista para este proyecto.
B1The team needs specialist knowledge for this project.
Esta es una tarea especialista que solo el jefe puede hacer.
B2This is an expert task that only the boss can do.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: especialista
Question 1 of 2
If you are referring to a female doctor who is an expert in skin problems, which phrase is correct?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the word 'especial' (special) combined with the common suffix '-ista,' which is used to indicate a person who practices a profession or doctrine. It literally means 'one who deals with a specific kind or area.'
First recorded: Mid-19th century (in the modern sense)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'especialista' is masculine or feminine?
The word 'especialista' itself never changes. You know the gender of the person it refers to by the article you use: 'el' if the person is male, and 'la' if the person is female. For example, 'El jefe es especialista' (The male boss is a specialist) and 'La jefa es especialista' (The female boss is a specialist).
Can I use 'especialista' to describe objects or knowledge?
Yes, but less often. When used as an adjective, it means 'expert' or 'specialized' and describes a thing, like 'conocimiento especialista' (specialist knowledge). The related word 'especializado' is more commonly used in this context.