novato

novice

noun noh-BAH-toh Rare

Also means

rookie

Usage Note

Novato is informal but widely used across Spain and Latin America for someone new to a job, sport, or activity. The feminine is novata. It overlaps with principiante (beginner), but novato carries a slightly dismissive or affectionate tone depending on context.

Examples

"El novato cometió un error típico."

Natural Translation

The rookie made a typical mistake.

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