maestro
/mah-ESS-troh/
teacher
A maestro (teacher) in a primary school setting.
📝 In Action
El maestro de mi hijo es muy paciente.
A1My son's teacher is very patient.
La maestra nos enseñó a leer y escribir.
A2The teacher taught us to read and write.
💡 Grammar Points
Making it Feminine
To talk about a female teacher, just change the '-o' at the end to an '-a': maestra. This is a very common pattern in Spanish for jobs.
❌ Common Pitfalls
`Maestro` vs. `Profesor`
Mistake: "Using `maestro` for a university professor."
Correction: Generally, use `maestro` for a primary school teacher and `profesor` for a high school or university teacher. Think of `maestro` as someone who teaches kids the basics.
⭐ Usage Tips
A Sign of Respect
In some contexts, like music or trades, calling someone 'Maestro' is a huge sign of respect for their skill and experience.
A person of great skill in an art or trade is referred to as a maestro (master/expert).
maestro(Noun)
master
?a person with great skill
expert
?in a particular subject or activity
,virtuoso
?especially in music or art
📝 In Action
Picasso fue un maestro del cubismo.
B1Picasso was a master of Cubism.
Es un maestro en el arte de la negociación.
B2He is a master in the art of negotiation.
El carpintero es un verdadero maestro; su trabajo es impecable.
C1The carpenter is a true master; his work is flawless.
⭐ Usage Tips
Beyond the Classroom
This meaning of maestro highlights skill, not just teaching. You can be a maestro of cooking, playing the guitar, or even telling jokes if you're exceptionally good at it.
When used as an adjective, maestra (master) can refer to a principal item, such as a llave maestra (master key).
📝 In Action
Necesitamos la llave maestra para abrir todas las puertas.
B2We need the master key to open all the doors.
El plan maestro detalla cada fase del proyecto.
B2The master plan details every phase of the project.
Esa es la viga maestra que soporta todo el techo.
C1That is the main beam that supports the whole roof.
💡 Grammar Points
Matching the Noun
When used like this, maestro is an adjective, so it must match the thing it describes. If the noun is feminine, it becomes maestra, like in llave maestra (key) or obra maestra (work of art).
Word Order
This adjective almost always comes right after the noun it's describing, like plan maestro or viga maestra.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: maestro
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'maestra' as an adjective meaning 'main' or 'principal'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the real difference between `maestro` and `profesor`?
The simplest rule of thumb is age group: `maestro/a` is for teachers of young children (preschool, primary school). `Profesor(a)` is for teachers of older students (high school, university). However, in some countries, `profesor` can be used more broadly, and `maestro` can be a title of great respect for any expert, not just a teacher.
Can I use `maestro` for a music teacher?
Absolutely! In the world of music, art, and skilled trades, `maestro` is very common. It's used for music teachers, conductors, famous painters, or expert craftspeople. In this case, it carries a strong sense of 'master' and respect.