Learn How to Pronounce Rafael Trujillo | YouPronounce.it

How to Pronounce Rafael Trujillo

Quick Answer: In Spanish, the name Rafael Trujillo is pronounced [rafaˈel tɾuˈxiʝo].
(Listen to the audio below for the stress and intonation)

Meaning and Context

Rafael Leónidas Trujillo Molina, often referred to simply as "El Jefe" (The Chief) or by the cultish title "El Benefactor," was the military strongman and absolute dictator who dominated the Dominican Republic from 1930 until his assassination in 1961. Rising through the ranks of the US-created National Guard, Trujillo seized the presidency in 1930 after a devastating hurricane and subsequent political manipulation, inaugurating a brutal and kleptocratic regime known as the "Era of Trujillo." His authoritarian rule was characterized by an extensive personality cult, ruthless suppression of dissent through his secret police, and the 1937 Parsley Massacre (El Corte) which resulted in the deaths of thousands of Haitian migrants. Despite fostering a facade of economic modernization and stability, his governance was synonymous with human rights abuses, pervasive corruption, and the consolidation of personal wealth, leaving a profound and complex legacy on Dominican history and politics that continues to be analyzed and debated today.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The standard and correct spelling is Rafael Trujillo. Common variations or errors often involve his full name, Rafael Leónidas Trujillo Molina, where accents or the order of names may be mistaken. Frequent misspellings include "Rafael Trujillo" (incorrectly adding an accent), "Rafael Trujillo," or "Rafael Trujillo." In English-language texts, the "j" is correctly pronounced with an "h" sound, but this sometimes leads to phonetic misspellings like "Truhillo." Researchers should also be aware that during his regime, the capital city, Santo Domingo, was renamed "Ciudad Trujillo" (Trujillo City) from 1936 to 1961, a spelling that remains historically accurate for that period. When searching, using both "Rafael Trujillo" and the Spanish-language "Era de Trujillo" (Trujillo Era) can yield comprehensive results.

Example Sentences

Historians often cite the Rafael Trujillo dictatorship as a quintessential example of a mid-20th century Caribbean caudillo regime.

The novel The Feast of the Goat by Mario Vargas Llosa provides a fictionalized yet harrowing account of the final days of Rafael Trujillo's rule.

For three decades, Rafael Trujillo maintained control through a combination of terror, propaganda, and strategic alliances with the United States.

The memory of Rafael Trujillo still casts a long shadow over Dominican society, influencing its political culture and collective trauma.

Many archival documents from the Rafael Trujillo era have been preserved, offering critical insight into the mechanisms of state-sponsored repression.

Related Pronunciations

📂 Browse all words in the Latin American Leaders category ➔