caballero

[ kab-uhl-yair-oh, kab-uh-lair-oh; Spanish kah-bah-lye-raw, -ye- ]

/ ˌkæb əlˈyɛər oʊ, ˌkæb əˈlɛər oʊ; Spanish ˌkɑ βɑˈlyɛ rɔ, -ˈyɛ- /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for caballero on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural ca·bal·le·ros

[kab-uhl-yair-ohz, kab-uh-lair-ohz; Spanish kah-bah-lye-raws, -ye-]. /ˌkæb əlˈyɛər oʊz, ˌkæb əˈlɛər oʊz; Spanish ˌkɑ βɑˈlyɛ rɔs, -ˈyɛ-/.

a Spanish gentleman.

Southwestern U.S.

a horseman.
a woman's escort or admirer; cavalier.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of caballero

First recorded in 1740–50; from Spanish: “horseman, knight, gentleman,” from Late Latin caballārius groom; see origin at cavalier

Words nearby caballero

cabal, cabala, cabaletta, cabalist, Caballé, caballero, cabana, Cabanatuan, cabane, cabaret, cabaret tax

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use caballero in a sentence

His Zorro dedicates himself to the equitable treatment of every citizen and rouses his fellow caballeros to practice a democratic form of noblesse oblige.
Zorro at 100: Why the original swashbuckler is still the quintessential American action hero|Michael Sragow|January 1, 2021|Washington Post
His capture could have been very bad luck for Col. Caballero.
Venezuela’s Agony: Weak President, Strong Generals, Riots and Cocaine|Marcel Ventura|April 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He spotted Nestor Gabriel Caballero Gutierrez, 39, of Aloha, Oregon, limping down the road.
Behind the Gert Boyle Kidnap Attempt|Winston Ross|November 27, 2010|DAILY BEAST
"No, seor—I have no brother: that caballero, he is only a——a friend of my father's," she answered confusedly.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 372, October 1846|Various

The change became him; he seemed a larger and handsomer man for it; he looked the caballero and almost the hidalgo.
Overland|John William De Forest
You must feel like myself, Caballero, inclined to draw breath after so long a ride; shall we rest together?
The Border Rifles|Gustave Aimard
Yes, he is a true Caballero; unfortunately, there are not many officers like him in the Mexican army.
The Border Rifles|Gustave Aimard
And you think yourself still in a position to answer for the discretion of this caballero?
The Guide of the Desert|Gustave Aimard

British Dictionary definitions for caballero

caballero

/ (ˌkæbəˈljɛərəʊ, Spanish kaβaˈʎero) /

noun plural -ros (-rəʊz, Spanish -ros)

a Spanish gentleman

a southwestern US word for horseman

Word Origin for caballero

C19: from Spanish: gentleman, horseman, from Late Latin caballārius rider, groom, from caballus horse; compare cavalier

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

caballero

Origin of caballero

Words nearby caballero

Words related to caballero

How to use caballero in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for caballero

Word Origin for caballero