Torero

A torero is a professional bullfighter in the Iberian and Latin American bullfighting tradition. The term covers the different specialists who perform in a corrida, including matadors, novilleros, banderilleros, picadors, and rejoneadores. In everyday usage, torero often refers to the principal combatant, the matador, but technically the word denotes the broader class of bullfighters. The corresponding female practitioner is torera.

During a corrida, the torero and team confront the bull in three stages: the tercio de varas, where picadors on horseback weaken the bull; the tercio de banderillas, where banderilleros plant barbed sticks to weaken the animal further; and the tercio de muerte, in which the matador finishes with a cape, muleta, and a sword to deliver the death.

Equipment includes the muleta (the small red cape used in the final stage), the capote or capa (large ceremonial cape for initial passes), the banderillas, the estoque (sword), and sometimes armor or protective gear. The torero's performance blends ritualized movements, timing, and risk, emphasizing control, grace, and artistry as central elements of the craft.

Most toreros begin training in bullfighting schools, then pass through apprentice roles and novilleros to gain experience with young bulls before facing mature animals in major corridas. Careers are highly competitive and vary in length; reputations hinge on technique, consistency, and the ability to handle dangerous encounters.

Bullfighting is a traditional spectacle in Spain, parts of Portugal, and several Latin American countries. It remains a subject of cultural heritage for supporters and of ethical controversy for critics, who argue against animal suffering. Laws and public opinion on bullfighting vary by country and region, affecting venues, formats, and participation.