How to Say "president" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “president” is “presidente” — use this term for the head of a country, republic, or a large organization when the gender is unknown or irrelevant, or for a male president.
presidente
pre-si-DEN-tepɾe.siˈðen.te
Examples
El presidente dio un discurso importante.
The president gave an important speech.
Mi padre es el presidente de la compañía.
My father is the president of the company.
Fue elegida presidenta del club de debate.
She was elected president of the debate club.
Gender: 'Presidente' vs. 'Presidenta'
Traditionally, 'presidente' was used for both men and women. Now, it's very common to use 'la presidenta' when referring to a woman. Both are correct, but 'presidenta' is often preferred for clarity and inclusivity.
Forgetting to change the article and ending for women
Mistake: “El presidente de Argentina es una mujer.”
Correction: La presidenta de Argentina es una mujer. When talking about a female president, remember to change both the word before it ('el' to 'la') and the ending of the word itself ('-e' to '-a').
presidenta
preh-see-DEN-tahpre.siˈðen.ta
Examples
La presidenta dio un discurso sobre la economía nacional.
The president (female) gave a speech about the national economy.
Ella fue elegida presidenta de la asociación de padres.
She was elected chairwoman of the parents' association.
La junta directiva se reunirá con la presidenta mañana.
The board of directors will meet with the president tomorrow.
Gendered Nouns
This word is the feminine version of 'presidente.' It specifically refers to a woman holding the office. Always use the feminine article 'la' before it.
Using the wrong article
Mistake: “El presidenta”
Correction: La presidenta. Since the noun ends in -a and refers to a woman, you must use the feminine article 'la'.
mandatario
man-dah-TAH-ryohman.da.ˈta.ɾjo
Examples
El mandatario dio un discurso sobre la economía.
The head of state gave a speech about the economy.
Los mandatarios de la región se reunieron en la cumbre.
The regional leaders met at the summit.
El primer mandatario insistió en la necesidad de paz.
The president/top leader insisted on the need for peace.
Gendered Ending
This specific form ends in -o and refers to a man. To talk about a female leader, change the ending to -a to make 'mandataria'.
Not for 'Boss'
Mistake: “Using 'mandatario' to describe your boss at work.”
Correction: Use 'jefe' for a work boss; 'mandatario' is only for top political or legal roles.
rector
rek-torrekˈtoɾ
Examples
El rector de la universidad inauguró el nuevo edificio de ciencias.
The university chancellor inaugurated the new science building.
Los estudiantes solicitaron una reunión con el rector para hablar de las becas.
The students requested a meeting with the president to talk about scholarships.
Para ser rector, se requiere una larga trayectoria académica.
To be a chancellor, a long academic career is required.
Gender and People
When referring to a man, use 'el rector'. For a woman, the word changes to 'la rectora'.
Rector vs. Principal
Mistake: “Using 'rector' for a primary school principal.”
Correction: In Spanish, 'rector' is usually reserved for universities. Use 'director' for K-12 school principals.
Choosing between 'Presidente' and 'Presidenta'
Related Translations
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