Labrador, granjero, campesino

Question

Hi I find that labrador = farmer, farmhand granjero = farmer campesino =peasant , farmer. Please comment on the following statements. 1. all of these words mean a farmer and can be used indiscriminately. (If not, please explain and provide examples) 2. if one wanted to describe a person working on the land but not owning it, he would use only Labrador. If a farmer’s plot is in a mountainous area would we still call him campesino? Is there a word that translates as peasant, no matter where this person is located (camp, mountain, sea coast).

Answer 1

I think it depends on the country.
In my country it's very common to say "productor rural" especially if he is the owner of a farm or even a cattle ranch. Since we call ranches, estancias, the owners can be called "estancieros" too.

We never use the word labrador except in history books. We can sometimes use the word "granjero" as a farmer.

We can use the word "campesino" but mostly for people in other countries or in history.

In short, in our country NOW it would be :

owners: productor, productor rural, productor lechero, productor agropecuario, estanciero.
employees: peón, peón rural, peón agropecuario , peón de estancia., also capataz if he is the senior employee.

The word "peón" is also used for chess . It is the pawn in the game of chess.

For other countries or in history books about other societies:

Campesinos, hacendados, granjeros, etc.

We use the word labrador for a breed of dogs - Polenta, Oct 11, 2017

There is a lovely dog called Labrador in English which started life in Newfoundland Canada where Labrador is. - Mardle, Oct 11, 2017

Thanks very much for your answer. What is your country? - piperia, Oct 11, 2017

Polenta, I still do not know very well how to navigate in pages like this. The question is addressed to you. I looked at your profile and cannot find your country, a crucail fact for the use of the word! Thanks again! - piperia, Oct 11, 2017

piperia: if memory serves she is from Uruguay. - DilKen, Oct 11, 2017

Uruguay - Polenta, Oct 11, 2017

Thanks! - piperia, Oct 13, 2017

Answer 2

I sort of agree with Polenta.

I normally understand (and use) "granjero" as "farmer", and "campesino" as "peasant". "Labrador" I also consider to be an old-fashioned word that you may see in books, but never used in modern contexts.

Thanks! - piperia, Oct 11, 2017

Answer 3

¿Qué quiere decir, Labrador? ¡Yo soy Labrador!

What do you mean, Labrador? I am a Labrador!

Thanks for the nice picture! I know Labrador the dog, I was not sure about Labrador the farmer! - piperia, Oct 13, 2017