Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Mayor in Spanish: Alcalde
Alcalde · noun · al-KAL-deh
The English word 'mayor' (the elected leader of a city or town) translates to 'alcalde' in Spanish. Be careful not to confuse this with the Spanish word 'mayor,' which means 'older' or 'bigger' — a common false cognate trap for English speakers.
al-KAL-deh
El alcalde inauguró el nuevo parque comunitario esta mañana.
The mayor inaugurated the new community park this morning.
Mayor in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for mayor, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| alcalde | mayor | al-KAL-deh | Default, widely understood |
| alcaldesa | mayor | female mayor | |
| intendente | mayor | Argentina, Uruguay |
How Native Speakers Use Alcalde
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Political context
La alcaldesa prometió construir más escuelas en los barrios pobres.
The mayor promised to build more schools in the poor neighborhoods.
'Alcaldesa' is used when the mayor is a woman.
News headline
El alcalde convocó una reunión de emergencia por las inundaciones.
The mayor called an emergency meeting because of the flooding.
Municipal leaders in Spain and most of Latin America carry the title 'alcalde.'
Argentine variant
El intendente de Buenos Aires anunció cambios en el transporte público.
The mayor of Buenos Aires announced changes to public transportation.
In Argentina and Uruguay, the term 'intendente' is preferred over 'alcalde.'
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Alcalde
False cognate with 'mayor'
Incorrect: Mi hermano mayor ganó las elecciones.
Correct: El alcalde ganó las elecciones.
The Spanish word 'mayor' means 'older' or 'bigger,' not the political title — mixing them creates a confusing sentence about a sibling rather than a politician.
Gender agreement
Incorrect: La alcalde habló con los ciudadanos.
Correct: La alcaldesa habló con los ciudadanos.
When referring to a female mayor, the noun must take the feminine form 'alcaldesa' to agree with the article 'la.'
Lock in Mayor Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Alcalde used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using alcalde in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear El alcalde inauguró el nuevo parque comunitario esta mañana. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Mayor in Spanish
- Why is 'mayor' a false cognate?
- The Spanish word 'mayor' functions as an adjective meaning 'older,' 'bigger,' or 'greater,' which has nothing to do with city governance. English speakers frequently assume the words are equivalent because they look identical, but they derive from different Latin roots with distinct semantic paths.
- Do all Spanish-speaking countries use 'alcalde'?
- Most countries in Latin America and Spain use 'alcalde' or 'alcaldesa' for a city's top elected official. Argentina and Uruguay stand apart by preferring 'intendente,' a term rooted in their distinct municipal governance structure dating back to the 19th century.
- How do I say 'mayor's office' in Spanish?
- The mayor's office is called 'la alcaldía,' which refers both to the physical building and the institution itself. In Argentina, you would hear 'la intendencia' instead, following the same pattern of using 'intendente' for the leader.