presidenta

Presidenta is the feminine form of the Spanish noun presidente. It designates a woman who holds the office of president, whether as head of state or head of government, in a country or organization. The form reflects gender in languages with grammatical gender and is used in many Spanish-speaking contexts.

In Spanish, the masculine form presidente is used for men, and the feminine presidenta for women. In practice, the use of presidenta has been widespread in media and official discourse to acknowledge the gender of female presidents; some style guides promote gender-neutral expressions when appropriate, but many countries routinely use la presidenta for female officeholders.

Notable examples of figures commonly referred to as la presidenta include Isabel Perón of Argentina, who became the first female president in 1974; Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, Argentina (2007–2015); Dilma Rousseff, Brazil (2011–2016); Laura Chinchilla, Costa Rica (2010–2014).

Beyond politics, the term can also describe leaders of organizations or institutions who hold the same office. The use of presidenta reflects broader shifts toward gender-inclusive language in public life.