marinero
/mah-ree-NEH-roh/
sailor
A sailor (marinero) is a person who works on a ship.
marinero(noun)
sailor
?person who works on a ship
seaman
?crew member
,mariner
?general term for someone who sails
📝 In Action
El viejo marinero contó historias increíbles sobre el océano.
A2The old sailor told incredible stories about the ocean.
Todos los marineros estaban listos para zarpar al amanecer.
B1All the sailors were ready to set sail at dawn.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Match
To talk about a female sailor, you change the ending: 'la marinera'. This is a common pattern for job titles ending in -o.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Jobs
Mistake: "Using 'navegante' when you mean a general crew member."
Correction: 'Navegante' is often a specialist (like a navigator), while 'marinero' is the general term for a deckhand or crew member.
⭐ Usage Tips
Root Word Clue
The word comes directly from 'mar' (sea), making it easy to remember that it relates to the ocean and sailing.
Things that are nautical (marinero) are related to ships or sailing.
marinero(adjective)
nautical
?related to ships or sailing
maritime
?related to the sea
,seafaring
?related to traveling by sea
📝 In Action
El estilo marinero, con rayas azules y blancas, está de moda.
B1The nautical style, with blue and white stripes, is in fashion.
Necesitamos un buen nudo marinero para asegurar la vela.
B2We need a good sailor's knot (nautical knot) to secure the sail.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement
Like all Spanish adjectives, 'marinero' must change its ending to match the thing it describes: 'un traje marinero' (masculine) but 'una vida marinera' (feminine).
⭐ Usage Tips
Common Use
This adjective is very common when talking about clothing styles, referring to the classic blue/white striped pattern often associated with the sea.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: marinero
Question 1 of 2
¿Cuál es el significado de 'estilo marinero'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'marinero' and 'marino'?
'Marinero' is usually the person—the sailor or seaman. 'Marino' is an adjective meaning 'marine' or 'naval' (like 'un oficial marino'—a naval officer). While very similar, 'marinero' is more commonly used for the regular crew or the nautical style.
Can 'marinero' be used figuratively?
Yes, occasionally. You might hear 'marinero de agua dulce' (freshwater sailor) to describe someone who is inexperienced or out of their element, especially if they are trying to act tough or knowledgeable, even though they lack real experience.