conselheiro

Conselheiro is a Portuguese term meaning a person who provides advice or guidance, either in a private capacity or as part of an official body. It derives from the noun conselho (council) with the agent suffix -eiro, ultimately from Latin consilium (council, advice). The feminine form is conselheira and the plural is conselheiros for masculine or mixed-gender groups, and conselheiras for all-feminine groups.

In everyday use, conselheiro refers to someone who offers counsel, such as a consultant or adviser. In institutional contexts, it denotes a member of an advisory or governing body. In Portugal, historically conselheiros served on royal or state councils, and the term has been associated with officials who participate in bodies such as the Conselho de Estado (Council of State) or similar high-level advisory organs. In contemporary administration, the title may appear to indicate roles involving high-level guidance or decision-making within public institutions, depending on the constitutional framework.

In Brazil, conselheiro is a formal title for members of several courts and councils, notably the Tribunal de Contas (Court of Accounts) and other oversight bodies, where members are referred to as conselheiros. The term also remains common as a generic label for counselors in business, education, and civil society.

The word occasionally appears in surnames and place names, reflecting its historical association with the occupation of advising.