ministro
/mi-NEES-tro/
minister
The word ministro can refer to a high-ranking government official, such as the Minister of Education.
ministro(noun)
minister
?high-ranking government official (e.g., Minister of Education)
,secretary (of state)
?used in some Latin American countries for government cabinet members
cabinet member
?member of the executive branch
📝 In Action
El ministro de Sanidad anunció nuevas medidas sanitarias.
B1The Minister of Health announced new health measures.
El presidente se reunió con todos los ministros para discutir el presupuesto.
B2The president met with all the ministers to discuss the budget.
Mi tío trabajó como ministro de Hacienda hace muchos años.
B1My uncle worked as the Secretary of the Treasury many years ago.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender and Plural
Since 'ministro' ends in -o, it is masculine. To talk about a female minister, you change the ending: 'la ministra'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
False Cognate Alert
Mistake: "Using 'ministro' to mean a low-level assistant or administrator (which is 'asistente' or 'administrador')."
Correction: In Spanish, 'ministro' always refers to a very high-level government position, never a simple assistant.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use of 'De'
When specifying the area of responsibility, you always use 'de': ministro de Economía (Minister of Economy).
The word ministro can also refer to a religious official, particularly in Protestant denominations.
ministro(noun)
minister
?religious official, particularly in Protestant denominations
clergyman
?general term for religious leader
📝 In Action
El ministro ofició la ceremonia de bautismo el domingo pasado.
B2The minister officiated the baptism ceremony last Sunday.
La comunidad agradeció al ministro por su apoyo espiritual.
C1The community thanked the minister for his spiritual support.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
If you hear 'ministro' in a sentence about government, use the political definition. If it's about a church or sermon, use the religious definition.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: ministro
Question 1 of 2
Which English translation is NOT appropriate for 'ministro' in the political context?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I say 'female minister' in Spanish?
You use 'la ministra'. Since it's a noun that refers to a person, you change the ending from -o to -a to match the gender: 'La ministra de Igualdad' (The Minister of Equality).
Is 'ministro' the same as 'secretario'?
They often refer to the same job! In Spain and some parts of Latin America, the head of a government department is a 'ministro'. In Mexico and the US system, that person is usually a 'secretario' (Secretary of State/Defense, etc.). Context is key, but the rank is the same.