For once there’s no avoiding getting technical as we get to grips with the commonest senses of another pair of similar-looking Spanish words: técnico and técnica.
Starting with técnico (masculine), you can listen to how it’s pronounced here:
Un técnico is a man with specialist practical knowledge and expertise in a particular field of science or art.
Un técnico often works with technology and equipment, sometimes in a support role – a technician:
Había sido técnico de telecomunicaciones en Kabul.
He had been a telecommunications technician in Kabul.
Trabajó un breve periodo como técnico de laboratorio en la Universidad de Nueva York.
He worked for a short time as a laboratory technician at the University of New York.
Un técnico may be someone considered to have particularly in-depth knowledge of a field and who applies his practical knowledge in his work – an expert or specialist:
Trabajó varios años como leñador, y más tarde estudió para ser técnico forestal.
He worked as a woodcutter for several years, and later studied to become a forestry expert or specialist.
Un técnico may also be a man you call in to fix a piece of equipment – an engineer:
Se formó para ser técnico en calefacción.
He trained to be a heating engineer.
In team sports such as football, un técnico is the senior man responsible for training a team and making the key decisions about strategy on the field – a manager (particularly in British English) or a coach:
Su padre fue técnico de uno de los equipos.
His father was the manager or coach of one of the teams.
El técnico realizó la conferencia de prensa de los 26 jugadores.
The manager or coach gave the press conference on behalf of the 26 players.
Especially in individual sports, un técnico can sometimes be a (fitness) trainer or coach:
el técnico del tenista español Rafa Nadal
the trainer or coach of Spanish tennis player Rafa Nadal
As with other masculine plural words referring to people, técnicos can refer to a mixed group of men and women:
Su personal supera las 200 personas entre investigadores y técnicos.
Its staff numbers over 200 with researchers and technicians.
Moving on to the feminine técnica, you can listen to its pronunciation here:
Unsurprisingly, una técnica is a woman doing any of the above jobs that un técnico does.
She may be a technician:
Es técnica de sonido profesional.
She’s a professional sound technician.
She may be an expert or specialist:
Ana es técnica en turismo.
Ana is a tourism expert or specialist.
She may be an engineer :
Trabajó como técnica en electrónica, reparando radios y televisores.
She worked as an electronics engineer, repairing radios and television sets.
Or in sport, she may be a manager or coach :
Fue anunciada como nueva entrenadora del primer equipo, sustituyendo a la técnica interina.
She was announced as the new trainer of the first team, replacing the interim manager or coach.
Una técnica is also a method or way of doing something – a technique:
Los romanos también dominaron la técnica del soplado de vidrio.
The Romans also mastered the technique of blowing glass.
Estudió y copió pinturas de Botticelli y aprendió las técnicas de los viejos maestros.
She studied and copied paintings by Botticelli and learned the techniques of the old masters.
Less commonly, técnica (feminine) is ability and expertise in doing something – skill:
El baile de las tierras altas es una forma de baile que requiere técnica, resistencia y fuerza.
Highland dancing is a form of dancing that requires skill, stamina and strength.
Este vuelo demostró una excelente técnica de acrobacias aéreas.
This flight demonstrated excellent aerial acrobatics skill(s).
La técnica sometimes means all the processes and resources used in a science, art or particular field – technology:
Aquí la técnica 3D reemplaza al dibujo.
Here, 3D technology replaces drawing.
Let’s move on to the adjective técnico (whose ending naturally inflects depending on whether it’s describing something masculine or feminine, singular or plural). Técnico is used of roles, processes and words of a specialist nature, often connected with industry, equipment, science or arts. You probably know what its English equivalent is already, since the two words are so similar – technical:
Un fallo técnico parecía ser la causa más probable del accidente.
A technical fault seemed to be the most likely cause of the accident.
un automóvil que incorpora los últimos avances técnicos
a car that incorporates the latest technical features
To discover further facts, both technical and general, about some more similar-looking Spanish words and their different uses, join us again next week.
