Matador and Toredor

[meglet]

What's the difference between a Matador and a Toredor?

[hippyhoppy]

I think they are both bullfighters, however a matador is the principal bullfighter who kills the bull - poor thing (the bull, not the bullfighter). Why do you want to know?

[meglet]

I thought they were both bullfighters but didn't know why they were named differently. This arose in a argument over me using the word Toreador in scrabble and my sister not believing me when I said it was a bullfighter!

Thanks

[Buenchico]

Toreadors are usually on horseback.

Chris

[Clanad]

Is that not a Banderillero or Picador, Chris?

My source indicates "...toreador is used in English to designate the main performer of Spanish-style bullfighting, who taunts and kills the bull. This word, which roughly translates as "bull handler", is not used in Spain or Latin America, where that role is called matador ("killer") or torero..."

[Buenchico]

You might be right, Clanad, but my source is the Oxford English Dictionary, which usually takes great care to ensure accuracy.

Actually, I seem to vaguely remember my school Spanish teacher saying (around 40years ago) that 'toreador' was invented by the French composer, Bizet, for use in his opera, Carmen and it's not used in Spain.

Chris

[kempie]

I believe Torero encompasses all types of "bull handler" in the ring; Picador, Rejoneador, Banderillero and Matador.

[jno]

matador means killer. Toreador looks like it's not used in Spanish so much as in English

http://mundo-taurino.org/alt_word.html