Spanish Conversation · Level 10
88 words
Spanish word
colonizador
Pronunciation
IPA/koloniθaˈðoɾ/
Meaning
- masculine nouncolonizer
Example
El colonizador llegó a la isla en el siglo XVI.
The colonizer reached the island in the 16th century.
More examples
El colonizador impuso nuevas leyes que cambiaron la sociedad.
The colonizer imposed new laws that changed society.
Core concept
Agent who settles a territory and exerts control over its land and population.
Common phrases
país colonizador
colonizing country
el papel del colonizador
the role of the colonizer
Similar words
colono: Moves to new land to farm and make a living.
poblador: Lives in a place or has recently begun residing there.
conquistador: Conquers territories by military force during historical expeditions.
invasor: Enters and occupies a country or area by force or coercion.
Definition in Spanish
Persona o grupo que llega a un territorio para establecer asentamientos y ejercer control político, económico o social sobre ese lugar.
Word origin
Derived from the verb colonizar and ultimately from Latin colonus 'settler' plus the agent suffix -ador, which marks 'one who colonizes'.
Usage tips
- In everyday speech the word implies power and exploitation rather than simple migration, making colono or inmigrante better choices when no political charge is intended.
Other meanings
- colonistnoun
Opposites
- descolonizadordecolonizernoun
- indígenaindigenous personnoun
Related words
- colonizarcolonizeverb
- colonizacióncolonizationnoun
- descolonizacióndecolonizationnoun