El torero es la persona que tiene mayor protagonismo en los espectáculos de corridas de toros. Su tarea es conducir repetidamente las embestidas del toro de forma que resulte estéticamente vistosa, medirlo en la suerte de capote, dirigirlo a la pica, colocarle las banderillas, templarlo en la suerte de muleta y finalmente causarle muerte mediante la utilización de una espada llamada estoque de muerte. Antiguamente, al torero se le llamaba toreador y se refería a todo aquel que, a pie o a caballo, entraba a la plaza a lidiar con toros. Sin embargo el DRAE consigna hasta su edición de 1869 que toreador era el "que lidia los toros a caballo, a distinción del torero" y a partir de la edición de 1884 simplemente "el que torea". La ópera Carmen (francesa) de 1857, propagó el término "Toreador" de una manera más global. El torero tiene varias etapas de formación, obtenida por la práctica.La primera etapa es la de novillero, en la que se lidia novillos debido a su menor tamaño y fuerza, comenzando generalmente en festivales sin caballos, para luego pasar a novilladas con picadores de acuerdo a sus resultados. La segunda etapa es la de matador, donde el torero ha conseguido destreza suficiente para desarrollar con estilo y técnica todos los tercios de la lidia. Cuando un novillero logra, en teoría, los méritos necesarios para alcanzar el grado de matador, realiza una corrida especial denominada alternativa. La alternativa se puede conseguir en cualquier plaza de toros de primera categoría; sin embargo generalmente los matadores realizan una confirmación de su alternativa en plazas de particular tradición.

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(For the 1956 documentary film, see Torero (film). For the song, see Torero (song).)("Matador" redirects here. For other uses, see Matador (disambiguation).)\n("Bullfighter" redirects here. For the rodeo performer also called a "bullfighter", see rodeo clown.)\nA torero (Spanish: [toˈɾeɾo]) or toureiro (Portuguese: [toˈɾɐjɾu]) (both from Latin taurarius, bullfighter), is the Spanish word for bullfighter and describes all the performers in the sport of bullfighting as practised in Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Peru, France and other countries influenced by Spanish culture. The performers who participate in the bullfight include: the main performer, who is the leader of an entourage and the one who kills the bull and is addressed as maestro (master), or with the formal title matador de toros (killer of bulls); the other bullfighters in the entourage are called subalternos and their suits are embroidered in silver as opposed to the matador's more-theatrical gold, and include picadores, rejoneadores, and banderilleros. In English, a torero is sometimes called a toreador. The term does not exist in Spanish; it was invented by Georges Bizet for his opera Carmen when needed the syllables of the word to match the timing of the song. A very small number of women have been bullfighters on foot or on horseback; one recent example is Cristina Sánchez. Female matadors have experienced considerable resistance and public hostility from aficionados and other matadors, perhaps being seen as a less physically nimble gender than the established norm. Usually, toreros start fighting younger bulls (novillos or, more informally in some Latin American countries, vaquillas), and are called novilleros. Fighting of mature bulls commences only after a special match, called "the Alternative". At this same bullfight, the novillero (junior bullfighter) is presented to the crowd as a matador de toros. The act of bullfighting is not called or considered a stand-alone sport but rather a performance art. There is no contest, simple punctuation, nor any formal classification. Further still, bullfighting, historically, started more with nobles upon horseback, all lancing bulls with accompanying commoners on foot doing helper jobs. As time went by, the work of the commoners on foot gained in importance up to the point whereupon they became the main and only act. Bullfighting on horseback became a separate and distinct act called "rejoneo" which is still performed today--although, not as often as bullfighting itself does on foot. Bullfighting on foot became a means for poor, able-bodied men to achieve fame and fortune, similar to the role of boxing in the United States. When a famous torero was asked why he risked his life, one man reportedly answered Más cornadas da el hambre ("[There is] more goring from hunger."). Today, it is now common for a bullfighter to be born into a family of bullfighters. The established term, Maletilla or espontáneo, is attributed to those who illegally jump into the ring and attempt to bullfight for their sake and glory. While the practice itself is widely despised by many spectators and fans alike, some, such as El Cordobés, started their very careers this way.

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