caudillo

warlord

noun kow-DEE-yoh Rare

Origin: From Latin caput ('head'), via Old Spanish cabdillo.

Also means

political strongman

Usage Note

Caudillo historically denotes a military or political leader who commands through personal authority, often by force. The term is strongly associated with 20th-century authoritarian leaders in Latin America and with Francisco Franco, who used the title El Caudillo. In modern Spanish it carries an unmistakably authoritarian connotation.

Examples

"El caudillo concentró todo el poder en sus manos."

Natural Translation

The strongman concentrated all power in his hands.

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