novillero

[ noh-vee-air-oh, -vuhl-yair-oh; Spanish naw-vee-ye-raw, -lye- ]

noun

, plural no·vi·lle·ros [noh-vee-, air, -ohz, -v, uh, l-, yair, -ohz, naw-vee-, ye, -, r, aws, -, lye, -].

1. a young bullfighter who has not yet been named a matador.

Word History and Origins

Origin of novillero¹

1920–25; < Spanish, equivalent to novill ( o ) a fighting bull less than three years old (< Latin novellus; novel ² ) + -ero (< Latin -ārius -ary ); such bulls are typically fought by novice bullfighters

Example Sentences

Mr. Barrio began his career as a novillero, or a young bullfighter, in 2010.

From New York Times