Suffixes: -ero vs. -dor

Question

So here's my question: how do you know when to use -ero or -dor on the end of a word, since both of them are usually used to signify a profession? For example:

-ERO: Pescado (fish) - Pasecadero (fishmonger) Fruta (fruit) - Frutero (greengrocer) Zapato (shoe) - Zapatero (shoemaker)

-DOR: Vender (to sell) - Vendedor (seller) Bailar (to dance) - Bailador (dancer) Matar (to kill) - Matador (bullfighter or killer)

The only difference I can see is that -ero tends to be used as actualy job titles, whereas -dor seems to be used on actions. You can call a person a "dancer" in a sentence even if they don't dance professionally, for example.

Answer 1

The suffix -dor is used to derive a noun or adjective from a Spanish verb. It may be derived from something a person does such as jugar (to play) can be made into jugador (player -as in an athlete). However, its use is not limited to defining people based on their actions. For example, cargar (to charge) becomes cargador (a charger; like for phones, batteries, etc).

The suffix -ero is used to derive a noun or adjective from another noun or adjective. For example, pan (bread) becomes panadero (baker -one who makes and sells bread). As with the suffix -dor, the use of -ero is not limited to defining just people but almost any noun. For example, limón (lemon) becomes limonero (lemon tree).

Welcome to SpanishDict. We ask that all new members complete their profiles with their native language, and what level of Spanish you feel you are, like, beginner, intermediate, etc. as well as gender. - rac1, Oct 24, 2016

Answer 2

I have made the same inquiry before. In English there are rules, sure there are exception but there are rules. In Spanish I have never found anyone who could provide a rule for this or the use of -mento, -mente, -miento, -miente as endings.

I think you just have to learn them, word by word.

There's a rule for -mente and it's the -ly ending when forming adverbs. - Oshnaj, Oct 24, 2016