vaquero

cowboy

noun adjective bah-KEH-roh Rare

Origin: From vaca (cow), via vaquero 'cattle herder'.

Also means

denim (as adjective)

Usage Note

Vaquero originally referred to a Spanish-colonial cattle herder and is the direct ancestor of the English word 'buckaroo'. In modern Spanish it also functions as an adjective meaning 'denim': pantalones vaqueros means jeans. In Latin America the term charro or gaucho may be preferred for the horseman sense.

Examples

"El vaquero montó su caballo al amanecer."

Natural Translation

The cowboy rode his horse at dawn.

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

How to Respond to ¿Cómo Estás? (Not Just Bien)

Respond to ¿cómo estás? like a native: add gracias, bounce back ¿y tú?, and pick a reply by mood — bien, no me quejo, más o menos, or ahí voy.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Spanish Object Pronouns: Lo, La, Le & Se Made Simple

Use lo/la for the direct object and le for the indirect — and le becomes se before lo/la. Master Spanish object pronouns with one simple verb test.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Preterite vs. Imperfect: Spanish Past Tense Made Easy

Preterite vs. imperfect: use the preterite for finished events, the imperfect for ongoing scenery. A trigger-word cheat sheet, flowchart, and examples.

June 9, 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