Inklingo

How to Say "janitor" in Spanish

English → Spanish

conserje

/kohn-SEHR-heh//konˈseɾxe/

nounA2general
Use 'conserje' for the person responsible for cleaning and general maintenance in a school, office, or similar public building.
A friendly person wearing a work uniform, holding a large mop and a bucket in a clean hallway.

Examples

El conserje mantiene limpio el patio de la escuela.

The janitor keeps the schoolyard clean.

El conserje limpia el portal todas las mañanas.

The caretaker cleans the building entrance every morning.

Si pierdes las llaves, pregunta en la conserjería a la conserje.

If you lose your keys, ask the caretaker at the front office.

El conserje del hotel nos consiguió entradas para el teatro.

The hotel concierge got us tickets for the theater.

One word, two genders

This word stays the same whether you're talking about a man or a woman. You only change the word 'the' in front: 'el conserje' for a man and 'la conserje' for a woman.

Don't change the ending

Mistake: “la conserja”

Correction: la conserje. Even though many Spanish words change 'o' to 'a' for women, words ending in 'e' often stay exactly the same.

portero

/por-TEH-roh//poɾˈteɾo/

nounA2general
Use 'portero' when referring to someone who manages a building, often with responsibilities like holding keys, greeting visitors, or overseeing security, especially in apartment buildings.
A formally dressed man wearing a uniform and cap is standing next to the large, ornate entrance door of an apartment building.

Examples

Pregúntale al portero si ha llegado algún paquete para ti.

Ask the doorman if any packages have arrived for you.

El portero del edificio guarda las llaves de todos los apartamentos.

The doorman of the building keeps the keys for all the apartments.

Tienes que hablar con el portero para que te abra la puerta principal.

You have to talk to the gatekeeper so he can open the main door for you.

Janitor vs. Cleaner

Mistake: “Using 'portero' for someone whose only job is cleaning.”

Correction: A 'portero' usually handles maintenance, security, and access. For general cleaning staff, use 'limpiador' or 'personal de limpieza'.

Conserje vs. Portero

Learners often confuse 'conserje' and 'portero' because both can relate to building staff. Remember that 'conserje' is more about cleaning and maintenance, while 'portero' often implies a role with more responsibility for access and security, like a doorman or superintendent.

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