Unit 14: Future and conditional perfect tenses, translation considerations (part 4)
14.6 Frequent Noun Endings
The ending –ero/a tends to indicate a profession or trade related to the root of the noun, as in banquero (“banker”). Other less common suffixes that express the same meaning are –ín, as in bailarín (“dancer”); –ario as in veterinario (“veterinarian”); –ista, as in modista (“seamstress,” “dressmaker”); and –dor as in contador (“accountant”).
Noun endings in –ista generally only have one singular form. The gender of the person is seen in the definite or indefinite article: el pianista = male pianist, la novelista = female novelist.
The ending –ería (or at times –era) often denotes a place of business, a particular kind of factory, or a profession or trade that comes from the root of the noun, as in ingeniería (“engineering”)
The suffix –ada usually indicates a quantity, as in cucharada (“spoonful”).
Profesiones y oficios (trades):
Study these examples. You do not need to memorize them. Simply notice the ending patterns so that you can begin to recognize professions and places of business by the ending.
| el/la bailarín/ina | dancer, ballerina |
| el/la bibliotecario/-a | librarian |
| el/la bomber/-a | firefighter |
| el/la cajero/-a | cashier |
| el/la camarero/-a | waiter, waitress, server |
| el/la carnicero/-a | butcher |
| el/la cartero/-a | letter carrier |
| el/la cocinero/a | cook |
| el/la contador/a | accountant |
| el/la costurero/a | tailor, seamstress |
| el/la enfermero/a | nurse |
| el/la fontanero/a | plumber |
| el/la modista | dressmaker, seamstress |
| el/la obrero/a | laborer, worker |
| el/la peluquero/a | hair stylist |
| el/la periodista | journalist |
| el/la vendedor/-a | salesperson |
Lugares (places):
| la biblioteca | library |
| la carnicería | butcher shop |
| la mueblería | furniture store/ furniture factory |
| la papelería | stationery store |
| la zapatería | shoe store |
