Inklingo

How to Say "instructor" in Spanish

English → Spanish

profesor

/pro-feh-SOR//pɾo.feˈsoɾ/

nounA1general
Use 'profesor' for a general teacher, especially in academic settings like schools or universities, or for subjects like languages or history.
A friendly male teacher standing in a classroom next to a large green chalkboard, holding a piece of chalk and smiling.

Examples

Mi profesor de español es de Madrid.

My Spanish teacher is from Madrid.

El profesor explicó la lección dos veces.

The teacher explained the lesson twice.

Ella es profesora de historia en la universidad.

She is a history professor at the university.

A Word with Two Genders

Profesor is the word for a male teacher. To talk about a female teacher, you just change the ending to -ora: profesora. This is a common pattern in Spanish for jobs ending in -or.

'Profesor' vs. 'Maestro'

Mistake: “Mi maestro de la universidad es muy inteligente.”

Correction: Mi profesor de la universidad es muy inteligente. Use `profesor` for high school and university teachers. `Maestro` is usually for elementary school teachers.

profesora

proh-feh-SOH-rah/pɾofeˈsoɾa/

nounA1general
Use 'profesora' when referring to a female teacher in a general academic or instructional context.
A smiling female teacher standing in a brightly lit classroom next to a green chalkboard.

Examples

Mi profesora de historia nos dio mucha tarea.

My history teacher gave us a lot of homework.

La profesora García es muy estricta con las fechas de entrega.

Professor García is very strict with the submission deadlines.

Ella aspira a ser profesora titular en la facultad de derecho.

She aspires to be a tenured professor in the law school.

Gendered Profession

This noun is feminine because it refers to a woman. The masculine equivalent is 'profesor' (male teacher/professor).

Using the Wrong Article

Mistake: “El profesora.”

Correction: La profesora. Since 'profesora' is feminine, it must use the feminine articles 'la' or 'una'.

monitor

/moh-nee-tohr//moniˈtoɾ/

nounA2general
Use 'monitor' specifically for an instructor in a sports, fitness, or technical setting, like a gym or a computer lab.
A fitness instructor in a tracksuit holding a whistle and guiding a group.

Examples

El monitor del gimnasio me explicó cómo usar las pesas.

The gym instructor explained to me how to use the weights.

Los monitores de este campamento son muy divertidos.

The counselors at this camp are very fun.

Changing Gender for People

When referring to a person, the word changes to match their gender: 'el monitor' for a man and 'la monitora' for a woman.

Don't use it for high-level professors

Mistake: “El monitor de historia.”

Correction: El profesor de historia.

Profesor vs. Monitor

The most common mistake is using 'profesor' for a sports coach or gym instructor. Remember that 'profesor' is primarily for academic teachers, while 'monitor' is for practical, hands-on instruction in specific environments like gyms or labs.

Related Translations

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