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How to Say "waiter" in Spanish

English → Spanish

camarero

kah-mah-REH-roh/kamaˈɾeɾo/

nounA1general
Use 'camarero' when referring to a male server in a restaurant or bar, especially common in Spain.
A smiling man dressed as a waiter, wearing a white shirt and black vest, holding a silver tray with a covered dish, standing in a simple restaurant setting.

Examples

Disculpe, camarero, ¿me trae la cuenta, por favor?

Excuse me, waiter, could you bring me the bill, please?

El camarero fue muy atento y nos recomendó un vino excelente.

The waiter was very attentive and recommended an excellent wine.

¿Dónde está el camarero? Necesitamos pedir más pan.

Where is the waiter? We need to order more bread.

Gender Matching

Remember to use 'la camarera' when referring to a female server, and 'el camarero' for a male server.

Calling Attention

Mistake: “Using '¡Oye!' (Hey!) to get the server's attention.”

Correction: It is much politer to say 'Disculpe' (Excuse me) or 'Perdón' (Pardon me) before saying 'camarero'.

mesero

/meh-SEH-roh//meˈseɾo/

nounA1general
Use 'mesero' for a person serving food and drinks in a restaurant, very common in Latin America.
A friendly waiter in a uniform holding a silver tray with a glass of juice and a plate of food.

Examples

El mesero trae la cuenta.

The waiter is bringing the bill.

El mesero fue muy amable con nosotros.

The waiter was very kind to us.

Le pregunté al mesero si el plato era picante.

I asked the waiter if the dish was spicy.

Masculine vs. Feminine

This word is used for a male waiter. If you are talking about a female server, change the 'o' to an 'a' to make it 'mesera'.

Using 'The'

In Spanish, you almost always need to use 'el' (the) before 'mesero' when talking about them, even if you wouldn't say 'the' in English.

Using the wrong word in Spain

Mistake: “Calling a waiter 'mesero' in Madrid.”

Correction: Use 'camarero' in Spain; 'mesero' is mostly used in Mexico and Latin America.

mozo

/MO-so//ˈmoso/

nounA2informal/traditional
Consider 'mozo' in more traditional or informal restaurant and cafe settings, though it can sometimes sound a bit dated or specific to certain regions.
A waiter in a white shirt and black apron holding a silver tray with a glass of water.

Examples

¡Mozo! ¿Nos trae la cuenta, por favor?

Waiter! Could you bring us the bill, please?

El mozo nos recomendó el vino de la casa.

The waiter recommended the house wine to us.

Trabajó como mozo durante todo el verano para ahorrar dinero.

He worked as a waiter all summer to save money.

Using it as a Call

In countries like Argentina, it is perfectly polite to say '¡Mozo!' to get a waiter's attention, whereas in other places, it might sound a bit old-fashioned.

Gender and Endings

This word ends in 'o' because it refers to a male waiter. If the server is female, you change it to 'moza'.

Regional Confusion

Mistake: “Using 'mozo' for a waiter in Mexico City.”

Correction: Use 'mesero' in Mexico; 'mozo' there is often used for a house servant or maintenance worker, which might sound confusing.

Regional Differences: Camarero vs. Mesero

The most common confusion for learners is choosing between 'camarero' and 'mesero'. While both are widely understood, 'camarero' is more prevalent in Spain, and 'mesero' is the standard in most of Latin America. Using the locally preferred term will sound more natural.

Related Translations

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