Inklingo

How to Say "foreman" in Spanish

English → Spanish

capataz

kah-pah-TAHSkapaˈθas

nounB1general
Use 'capataz' when referring to the person in charge of a group of manual laborers, especially in fields like construction, agriculture, or mining.
A person wearing a yellow safety vest and holding a rolled-up blueprint, standing confidently in front of a construction site with workers in the background.

Examples

El capataz dio las instrucciones a los obreros al comenzar el día.

The foreman gave instructions to the workers at the start of the day.

Ella es la capataz de la finca y conoce muy bien las tierras.

She is the overseer of the farm and knows the land very well.

Si tienes algún problema con la obra, habla con el capataz.

If you have a problem with the construction, talk to the foreman.

Changing Z to C in Plurals

When a Spanish word ends in 'z', it changes to a 'c' when you make it plural. So, one 'capataz' becomes many 'capataces'.

Gender and the word Capataz

While traditionally masculine (el capataz), you can refer to a woman as 'la capataz' or use the feminine form 'la capataza' in many regions.

Spelling the Plural

Mistake: “Los capatazes”

Correction: Los capataces. Always swap 'z' for 'c' before adding '-es'.

supervisor

soo-pehr-vee-SOHRsupeɾβiˈsoɾ

nounB1general
Use 'supervisor' for someone overseeing a project or team, particularly in more formal or office-based settings, including construction management.
A central figure, depicted as a supervisor, standing slightly elevated and pointing clearly at a task on a table where three team members are actively working on a project.

Examples

Mi supervisor me dio una retroalimentación positiva sobre el proyecto.

My supervisor gave me positive feedback on the project.

Necesitas la aprobación del supervisor para tomar vacaciones.

You need the supervisor's approval to take vacation time.

El supervisor de la obra visitó el sitio esta mañana.

The construction site supervisor visited the site this morning.

Gender Change for People

When referring to a woman in this role, the word changes to the feminine form: 'la supervisora'. Always match the ending to the person's gender.

Confusing Roles

Mistake: “Usando 'jefe' cuando realmente es un 'supervisor'.”

Correction: While 'jefe' (boss) is general, 'supervisor' implies a specific role overseeing daily tasks. Use 'supervisor' for clarity in a hierarchy.

Capataz vs. Supervisor

Learners often confuse 'capataz' and 'supervisor' because both can mean someone in charge. Remember that 'capataz' is more common for manual labor teams, while 'supervisor' is broader and can include office settings or project management roles.

Related Translations

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