How to Say "department chair" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “department chair” is “catedrático” — B2 level.
Examples
Mi abuelo fue catedrático de Medicina durante treinta años.
My grandfather was a senior professor of Medicine for thirty years.
Para ser catedrático en España, hay que superar un proceso muy difícil.
To become a senior professor in Spain, you have to pass a very difficult process.
El catedrático de Historia publicó un libro sobre la Guerra Civil.
The senior History professor published a book about the Civil War.
Rank Matters
In Spanish, 'profesor' is a general word for any teacher. 'Catedrático' specifically refers to the highest possible rank a teacher can achieve at a university or high school.
Using 'de' for Subjects
To say what someone is a professor of, always use the word 'de' followed by the subject (e.g., 'catedrático de Física').
Don't confuse with 'profesor'
Mistake: “Calling a primary school teacher a 'catedrático'.”
Correction: Use 'maestro' for primary school and reserve 'catedrático' for high-level university positions.
Related Translations
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