portero

Portero is a Spanish noun with several related meanings. It can refer to a person who guards a doorway or gate, such as a doorman or concierge in a building, and it is also used for specific roles in sports, where it denotes the goalkeeper. In many Spanish-speaking countries, the term is common in both everyday and specialized contexts.

In sports, the portero is the player responsible for defending the goal. The portero tries to prevent the opposing team from scoring by stopping shots with any legal part of the body, typically within the goal area or penalty box. This position is crucial for teams, and porteros are usually distinguished by skills such as reflexes, decision-making, and leadership. The word is used across various sports with a similar role—most often in football (soccer), but also in handball, water polo, and hockey. In some regions the portero is also called arquer(o) or guardameta, depending on local usage.

In a building or workplace, a portero (also conserje in some regions) is the staff member responsible for access control, mail and deliveries, basic security, and resident assistance. This person may work on a fixed shift or live in the premises, and duties can vary from administrative tasks to maintenance support.

Etymology-wise, the term comes from the concept of guarding a door or gate, derived from the related root porta or puerta with the agent suffix -ero, designating a person associated with that duty.