How to Say "director" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “director” is “director” — use this for the head of a company, department, or educational institution like a school principal, and also for a film, theater, or television director.
director
dee-rek-TORdi.ɾekˈtoɾ
Examples
El director de la escuela dio un discurso.
The school principal gave a speech.
Hablé con la directora de Recursos Humanos.
I spoke with the Human Resources director.
Nuestro director general es muy joven.
Our CEO is very young.
¿Quién es el director de esta película?
Who is the director of this movie?
Making it Feminine
This word changes for a woman. For a female director, you say 'la directora'. Remember to change 'el' to 'la' too!
`Director` vs. `Gerente`
Mistake: “Using `director` for a store manager.”
Correction: For a store, restaurant, or bank branch manager, it's more common to say 'el gerente'. 'Director' is usually for someone higher up, like the head of a whole company or a large department.
directora
dee-rek-TOH-rahdi.ɾekˈto.ɾa
Examples
La directora de la empresa firmó el contrato.
The company director signed the contract.
Necesitamos hablar con la directora de la escuela sobre el horario.
We need to talk to the school principal about the schedule.
Mi hermana es la directora del departamento de marketing.
My sister is the director of the marketing department.
La directora de la orquesta levantó la batuta.
The orchestra conductor raised the baton.
Feminine Role Titles
In Spanish, job titles often change form to match the person's gender. 'Directora' is the female form; 'director' is the male form.
Creative Roles
When referring to artistic leadership, 'directora' is the standard term, covering everything from movie sets to concert halls.
Using the Masculine Form by Mistake
Mistake: “Hablé con el directora.”
Correction: Hablé con la directora. (Remember that the article 'la' must match the feminine noun 'directora'.)
jefa
HEH-fah'xefa
Examples
Mi jefa me pidió que terminara el informe antes del almuerzo.
My boss asked me to finish the report before lunch.
La jefa de ventas está en una reunión importante.
The head of sales is in an important meeting.
¿Puedo hablar con la jefa, por favor?
May I speak with the manager, please?
Gender Match
Since 'jefa' is a feminine noun, you must use feminine articles and adjectives with it (e.g., 'la jefa,' 'mi buena jefa').
Confusing Gender
Mistake: “Using 'el jefa' instead of 'la jefa'.”
Correction: Remember the word ends in '-a' and refers to a woman, so it is always 'la jefa'.
gerente
he-RÉHN-tehxeˈɾente
Examples
La gerente de ventas aprobó la nueva estrategia.
The sales manager approved the new strategy.
Necesitamos hablar con el gerente general sobre los resultados del proyecto.
We need to speak with the general manager about the project results.
El gerente del hotel resolvió el problema de inmediato.
The hotel manager solved the problem immediately.
Gender Flexibility
Though 'gerente' is listed as masculine, it can refer to a man (el gerente) or a woman (la gerente). The word itself stays the same, but the article ('el' or 'la') must match the person's gender.
Confusing with 'Jefe'
Mistake: “Usando 'jefe' para un alto ejecutivo.”
Correction: While a 'jefe' is a boss, a 'gerente' usually implies a higher, more specific administrative rank, like a department head or general manager. Use 'gerente' for formal titles.
conductor
kon-dook-TORkon.dukˈtoɾ
Examples
El famoso conductor de la orquesta sinfónica saludó al público.
The famous conductor of the symphony orchestra greeted the audience.
Ser un buen conductor requiere mucha pasión y oído musical.
Being a good conductor requires a lot of passion and a musical ear.
Shared Term
Notice that the same word describes someone driving a car and someone leading an orchestra. This is because the core verb 'conducir' means 'to lead' or 'to guide'.
principal
preen-see-PAHLpɾinsiˈpal
Examples
El principal de la escuela nos dio un discurso de bienvenida.
The school principal gave us a welcoming speech.
La principal de la universidad aprobó el nuevo proyecto.
The university director approved the new project.
Identifying Gender
When 'principal' refers to a person, you use the article 'el' for a man and 'la' for a woman, even though the word 'principal' itself doesn't change: 'el principal' (male principal) / 'la principal' (female principal).
consejero
kohn-seh-HEH-rohkon.seˈxe.ɾo
Examples
El consejero de Educación visitó la nueva escuela.
The Minister/Secretary of Education visited the new school.
Decidieron nombrar un nuevo consejero delegado para la compañía.
They decided to appoint a new chief executive officer (CEO) for the company.
Cada consejero del banco tiene un voto en las decisiones importantes.
Each board member of the bank has one vote on important decisions.
Political Context in Spain
In Spain, the highest officials in the regional governments (Autonomous Communities) are often called 'Consejeros,' similar to how 'Ministers' are used in national government.
realizador
ray-ah-lee-sah-DORrealiθaˈðor
Examples
El realizador decidió cambiar el ángulo de la cámara en el último momento.
The director decided to change the camera angle at the last moment.
Trabaja como realizador de programas deportivos desde hace diez años.
He has been working as a producer of sports programs for ten years.
Es un realizador muy respetado en el mundo del cine independiente.
He is a very respected filmmaker in the world of independent cinema.
The 'Doer' Ending
The ending '-dor' is like adding '-er' or '-or' in English (like 'work-er' or 'act-or'). It tells you that this person is the one performing the action of 'realizar' (to make or carry out).
Jobs and Gender
Even though we are looking at the masculine form 'realizador,' remember that in Spanish, job titles change to end in '-a' for women. So, a female director is a 'realizadora'.
Director vs. Realizador
Mistake: “Using 'director' for every situation in TV.”
Correction: In Spanish TV, the person choosing the camera shots live is specifically the 'realizador,' while 'director' often refers to the person in charge of the script and overall content.
gobernador
go-ber-na-DORɡoβeɾnaˈðoɾ
Examples
El gobernador del estado firmó la nueva ley.
The state governor signed the new law.
El cargo de gobernador es elegido por voto popular.
The position of governor is chosen by popular vote.
Todos esperan que el nuevo gobernador mejore la economía local.
Everyone hopes the new governor improves the local economy.
Gender Rule
Since this word ends in '-or', it refers to a man (masculine). If you are talking about a female leader, you must use the feminine form: 'la gobernadora'.
Confusing Nouns
Mistake: “Using 'gobierno' when you mean the person.”
Correction: 'Gobierno' means the 'government' (the system or institution). 'Gobernador' is the person in charge. Use 'gobernador' when referring to the individual.
Director vs. Conductor vs. Realizador
Related Translations
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