Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Journalist in Spanish: Periodista
Periodista · noun · peh-ree-oh-DEES-tah
Periodista is the Spanish word for journalist, a person who investigates, writes, and reports news for media outlets.
peh-ree-oh-DEES-tah
La periodista entrevistó al presidente.
The journalist interviewed the president.
Journalist in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for journalist, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| periodista | journalist | peh-ree-oh-DEES-tah | Default, widely understood |
| reportero | journalist | reporter, field journalist | |
| comunicador | journalist | broader media professional |
How Native Speakers Use Periodista
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
News report
El periodista viajó a la zona del conflicto.
The journalist traveled to the conflict zone.
Describing a reporter covering international news.
Career aspiration
Mi hija quiere ser periodista cuando sea grande.
My daughter wants to be a journalist when she grows up.
Discussing career goals.
Media event
Los periodistas esperaban fuera del tribunal.
The journalists waited outside the courthouse.
Describing a press scene.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Periodista
Adding -o or -a ending
Incorrect: Él es un periodisto.
Correct: Él es un periodista.
Periodista ends in -a for both masculine and feminine — only the article changes: el periodista (male) or la periodista (female).
Confusing periodista with periódico
Incorrect: Leí un periodista interesante.
Correct: Leí un periódico interesante.
Periódico means newspaper (the publication), while periodista means the person who writes for it.
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See Periodista used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Journalist in Spanish
- How do you say 'journalist' in Spanish?
- The word is periodista, and it applies to all journalists regardless of gender — you distinguish gender through the article: el periodista or la periodista.
- What is the difference between periodista and reportero?
- Periodista is the broad term for any journalist, while reportero specifically refers to a reporter who gathers news in the field — all reporteros are periodistas, but not all periodistas are reporteros.
- Where does the word periodista come from?
- It derives from periódico (newspaper or periodical), which itself comes from the Greek periodikos meaning recurring at intervals — reflecting the regular publication cycle of news.