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vaquero

vah-KEH-rohbaˈkeɾo

“vaquero” means “cowboy” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

cowboy, rancher

Also: stockman
NounmA2
Mexico
A man wearing a cowboy hat and boots, riding a horse while herding cattle in a simple, colorful storybook style.

📝 In Action

El vaquero montó su caballo al amanecer para revisar el ganado.

B1

The cowboy mounted his horse at dawn to check the cattle.

Mi abuelo era vaquero en Texas.

A2

My grandfather was a rancher in Texas.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • ganadero (cattle rancher)
  • jinete (horse rider)

Common Collocations

  • sombrero de vaquero – cowboy hat
  • vida de vaquero – cowboy life

denim, jean

Also: cowboy-style
Spain
A close-up view of the distinct blue woven texture of denim fabric, rendered in a colorful storybook style.

📝 In Action

Necesito comprar unos pantalones vaqueros nuevos.

A1

I need to buy some new denim pants (jeans).

Ella llevaba una camisa vaquera con botones de perla.

A2

She was wearing a denim shirt with pearl buttons.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • tejano (jeans/denim (common in Spain))

Common Collocations

  • pantalones vaqueros – jeans
  • chaqueta vaquera – denim jacket

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "vaquero" in Spanish:

cowboy→cowboy-style→denim→jean→rancher→stockman→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: vaquero

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'vaquero' to describe clothing?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
vaca(cow) — Noun
vaquería(dairy farm / ranch) — Noun
vaquera(cowgirl / denim (feminine)) — Noun / Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

'Vaquero' is formed simply by combining the Spanish word 'vaca' (cow) with the suffix '-ero,' which usually indicates a person who works with something or a place related to it. Essentially, it means 'a person of the cows.'

First recorded: 15th century (referring to herders)

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: vaqueiroEnglish: buckaroo

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'vaqueros' (plural) a noun or an adjective when talking about pants?

It can be both! It's technically an adjective in 'pantalones vaqueros' (denim pants), but in common conversation, Spanish speakers often drop 'pantalones' and just say 'Me puse mis vaqueros' ('I put on my jeans'), making 'vaqueros' function as a noun.

How is 'vaquero' related to the English word 'buckaroo'?

'Buckaroo' is actually an English corruption of the Spanish word 'vaquero.' When English-speaking settlers arrived in the American West, they borrowed and adapted the Spanish term for the cattle herders they encountered.