maestros
/mah-ES-trohs/
teachers
Professional educators, or maestros, sharing a classroom.
maestros(noun)
teachers
?Professional educators (male or mixed gender group)
instructors
?General term for someone teaching a skill
,schoolteachers
?Specifically referring to primary or secondary education staff
📝 In Action
Los maestros de la escuela primaria están en una reunión.
A1The elementary school teachers are in a meeting.
Necesitamos más maestros dedicados a la ciencia.
A2We need more teachers dedicated to science.
💡 Grammar Points
Plural for Mixed Groups
Remember that 'maestros' is the plural form for a group of male teachers, OR for a group of teachers that includes both men and women. If the group is all female, you must use 'maestras'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Gender Plurals
Mistake: "Las maestros son muy buenos."
Correction: Los maestros son muy buenos. (The article 'los' must match the masculine noun 'maestros'.)
⭐ Usage Tips
General Term
'Maestro' is usually the most common and neutral term for school-level teachers in many Spanish-speaking countries, while 'profesor' is often reserved for higher education.
Skilled practitioners and experts, or maestros, working on their craft.
maestros(noun)
masters
?Experts or highly skilled practitioners in an art, craft, or trade
foremen
?Skilled supervisors, especially in construction ('maestros de obra')
,craftsmen
?Skilled artisans
📝 In Action
Los viejos maestros de la carpintería enseñaron a los jóvenes.
B1The old masters of carpentry taught the young people.
Los maestros de obra revisaron los planos antes de empezar.
B2The foremen (or lead builders) reviewed the blueprints before starting.
💡 Grammar Points
The Root of Mastery
This meaning shows how the idea of 'teaching' is related to the idea of 'mastery.' If you are a 'maestro,' you are so skilled you could teach others.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with 'De'
You almost always use 'maestros de' (masters of) followed by the field of expertise, like 'maestros de la cocina' (masters of cooking).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: maestros
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'maestros' to refer to a group of 8 women and 2 men?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'maestros' and 'profesores'?
Both mean 'teachers,' but 'maestros' is often used for elementary or primary school teachers, especially in Latin America. 'Profesores' usually refers to secondary school (high school) or university teachers.
How do I know if 'maestros' means teachers or experts?
Context is key! If the sentence mentions a school, students, or classrooms, it means teachers. If it mentions carpentry, art, or construction ('maestros de obra'), it means highly skilled experts or masters.