A formally dressed person standing behind a wooden podium, giving a speech to represent a leader or president.

presidente

/pre-si-DEN-te/

NounmA2

president?of a country, republic, or large organization

Also:chairman?of a board, committee,chairperson?gender-neutral term for the head of a group

📝 In Action

El presidente dio un discurso importante.

The president gave an important speech.

Mi padre es el presidente de la compañía.

My father is the president of the company.

Fue elegida presidenta del club de debate.

She was elected president of the debate club.

El presidente de la junta directiva convocó una reunión.

The chairman of the board of directors called a meeting.

Word Connections

Synonyms

mandatario (ruler, head of state)
gobernante (ruler, governor)
jefe de estado (head of state)

Common Collocations

señor presidente / señora presidenta – Mr. President / Madam President
presidente del gobierno – prime minister (in Spain)
presidente electo – president-elect

💡 Grammar Points

Gender: 'Presidente' vs. 'Presidenta'

Traditionally, 'presidente' was used for both men and women. Now, it's very common to use 'la presidenta' when referring to a woman. Both are correct, but 'presidenta' is often preferred for clarity and inclusivity.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting to change the article and ending for women

Mistake: "El presidente de Argentina es una mujer."

Correction: La presidenta de Argentina es una mujer. When talking about a female president, remember to change both the word before it ('el' to 'la') and the ending of the word itself ('-e' to '-a').

⭐ Usage Tips

More Than Just Countries

Remember, 'presidente' isn't just for countries! You can use it for the head of almost any group: a company, a club, a board, or even a homeowners' association.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: presidente

Question 1 of 1

If you are talking about the female leader of a company, which sentence is most commonly used today?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

presidir(to preside) - verb

presidencia(presidency) - noun

presidencial(presidential) - adjective

vicepresidente(vice president) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it ever correct to say 'la presidente' for a woman?

Yes, technically it's not wrong according to the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE). However, in modern everyday use, 'la presidenta' is much more common, clearer, and generally preferred. It's best to use 'la presidenta' to sound natural.

What's the difference between 'presidente' and 'primer ministro'?

It depends on the country's political system. In a presidential system (like the US or Mexico), the 'presidente' is the head of both the state and the government. In a parliamentary system (like Spain or Canada), the 'presidente del gobierno' or 'primer ministro' is the head of government, while the head of state is a monarch or a different, more ceremonial president.