alcaldesa

mayor (female)

noun ahl-kahl-DEH-sah Rare

Origin: From Arabic al-qāḍī ('the judge'), via alcalde.

Usage Note

Alcaldesa is the feminine form of alcalde; both are the standard titles for the head of a Spanish municipal government. The Arabic origin — through the medieval Iberian borrowing alcalde — is shared with words like alguacil and alcázar. In informal contexts la alcalde is also heard, but alcaldesa is the norm in Spain today.

Examples

"La alcaldesa inauguró el nuevo parque esta mañana."

Natural Translation

The mayor inaugurated the new park this morning.

Free starter pack

Building your Spanish vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common Spanish words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore Spanish by topic

SpanishNow

You're Welcome in Spanish: Beyond De Nada

You're welcome in Spanish is more than de nada. Learn con gusto, no hay de qué, a la orden and more — and which to use by region and how formal the moment is.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Spanish Subjunctive Explained Simply for Beginners

The Spanish subjunctive is a mood, not a tense — use it after a WEIRDO trigger plus que. Learn the one rule, the yo-form recipe, and the lines you already say.

June 9, 2026 5 min read

SpanishNow

Spanish Reflexive Verbs: Me, Te, Se Made Clear

Spanish reflexive verbs use me, te, se for actions you do to yourself. Master the daily-routine pattern, pronoun placement, and shifts like dormir vs dormirse.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Te Quiero vs Te Amo: Saying "I Love You" in Spanish

Te quiero vs te amo, explained: te quiero is the warm, safe everyday I love you; te amo is deeper and more romantic. A relationship-by-relationship map.

June 3, 2026 6 min read