Skip to main content
capataz

capataz

9.9
A person who manages workers on a farm or ranch
  • noun
  • US
translation icon : capataz
  • The capataz organized the workers to ensure the crops were harvested on time.

Examples

  • Once drinkers had run up large debts of twenty or twenty-five pesos in his bar, he tipped off hacendados, who would then send a capataz (foreman) to their houses.

    Academic text (2002)
  • That same year, the enmaderador (timberman) Luis Miranda Garcia was ordered by his capataz to clean up the area he was working in.

    Academic text (1996)
  • At the end of the shift, the capataz returned to find the area completely dirty and a number of cars overturned.

    Academic text (1996)
  • Every morning, the capataz gives instructions to the team before they start working in the fields.

  • The capataz closely monitored the work to make sure everything was done efficiently.

Synonyms

gaffer
vscapataz
  • UK
1 8.1

A person in charge of workers on a work site

is specific to farm or ranch work rather than general sites
trail boss
vscapataz
  • Jargon
1 8.3

A person who leads and cares for a herd of cattle on a long drive

supervises workers on farms or ranches not mainly focused on herds
straw boss
vscapataz
  • Jargon
8.7

A worker who leads other workers but has little power

has overall charge of workers rather than holding only limited authority

How Senior

leader
1.0
director
424 3.0
manager
1.6
supervisor
346 2.8
capataz
  • US
9.9
foreman
187 3.1

Surface Forms

capataz singular
capatazes plural

Etymology

The word capataz comes from a root meaning 'head', the same root you see in captain. It originally named the 'head' of the workers, so today a capataz is the person in charge on a farm or ranch.