especialista
/es-pe-cia-LIS-ta/
specialist
An especialista (specialist) is an expert professional, like a scientist who dedicates their time to detailed study.
especialista(Noun)
specialist
?expert professional
,expert
?skilled person
pro
?informal expert
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender and Articles
Even though 'especialista' ends in -a, it refers to both men and women. You must use the correct article: 'el especialista' (the male specialist) or 'la especialista' (the female specialist).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Gender Ending
Mistake: "Using *especialisto* for a male specialist."
Correction: The word is always 'especialista,' regardless of the person's gender. The article ('el' or 'la') tells you if the person is male or female.
⭐ Usage Tips
The 'en' Preposition
When saying what the person specializes in, always use the preposition 'en' (in): 'especialista en' + subject.
The adjective especialista describes something related to a specialty, such as these highly specialized watchmaker tools.
especialista(Adjective)
specialist
?related to a specialty
,expert
?describing knowledge or skill
specialized
?particular field
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Invariable Adjective
When used as an adjective, 'especialista' usually stays the same whether the noun it describes is singular or plural, masculine or feminine (e.g., 'conocimiento especialista', 'tareas especialista').
⭐ Usage Tips
Alternative Adjective
Often, you can substitute 'especialista' with the more common adjective 'especializado' (specialized) without changing the meaning: 'conocimiento especializado'.
✏️ 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
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.