alcaldía

mayor's office; mayoralty

noun ahl-kahl-DEE-ah Rare

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

Usage Note

Alcaldía refers both to the office or position of mayor (ganar la alcaldía, 'to win the mayorship') and to the physical building of the mayor's office or city hall — the latter sense is especially common in Latin America, where alcaldía often replaces ayuntamiento (the term more typical in Spain). The mayor is el/la alcalde/alcaldesa. The Arabic etymology (al-qāḍī) also underlies alcalde.

Examples

"La alcaldía anunció nuevas obras en el centro."

Natural Translation

The mayor's office announced new works downtown.

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

Ser vs. Estar: When to Use Each in Spanish

Ser vs estar made simple: how you feel and where you are use estar, everything else uses ser. Master the rule, the exceptions, and the traps that flip meaning.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

How to Memorize Spanish Vocabulary Fast (That Sticks)

Memorize Spanish vocabulary fast with a 15-minute daily loop: spaced repetition, frequency-first words, and example-sentence cards that actually stick.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

How to Roll Your Rs in Spanish (Even If You Can't Yet)

Roll your Rs in Spanish by building from the butter sound you already make, then adding airflow. A step-by-step method, minimal pairs, and self-check drills.

June 3, 2026 7 min read

SpanishNow

Spanish Numbers 1-100: Count, Spell & Pronounce

Spanish numbers 1 to 100 are a system, not a list: three patterns build every number. Master the spelling, the accent rule, and how to say prices fast.

June 9, 2026 6 min read