árbitro
“árbitro” means “referee” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
referee
Also: umpire, official
📝 In Action
El árbitro pitó el final del partido.
A2The referee blew the whistle for the end of the match.
El árbitro sacó una tarjeta roja al jugador.
B1The referee showed a red card to the player.
Es difícil ser árbitro porque nadie está de acuerdo contigo.
B1It is hard to be a referee because no one agrees with you.
arbitrator
Also: mediator, judge
📝 In Action
Las empresas nombraron a un árbitro para resolver el contrato.
B2The companies appointed an arbitrator to resolve the contract.
Mi abuelo siempre era el árbitro en las discusiones familiares.
B2My grandfather was always the mediator in family arguments.
Él se considera el árbitro supremo de la moda en esta ciudad.
C1He considers himself the supreme judge of fashion in this city.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "árbitro" in Spanish:
arbitrator→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: árbitro
Question 1 of 3
En un partido de fútbol, ¿quién saca las tarjetas amarillas?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'arbiter,' which referred to someone who goes to a place to see or hear something—essentially a witness or a judge.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'árbitro' and 'juez'?
An 'árbitro' is usually for sports or specific arbitration/mediation, while a 'juez' is a judge in a court of law. However, in some sports like tennis, officials are called 'jueces'.
Can I use 'árbitro' for a woman?
Yes, but you should change the ending and the article to 'la árbitra'. In some regions, you might hear 'la árbitro', but 'la árbitra' is generally preferred.
Why is there an accent on the first 'á'?
Because the emphasis is on the first syllable (AR-bi-tro). In Spanish, when you emphasize the third-to-last syllable, you must write an accent mark.