en el trabajo
/en el tɾaˈbaxo/
The English phrase "at work" is translated into Spanish as en el trabajo.
En el trabajo is used to indicate that someone is at their place of employment. If you wish to specifically say "at my workplace", you can use en mi lugar de trabajo.
Meaning: at one's workplace (prep_phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the preposition en (in/at), the masculine article el (the) and the noun trabajo (work/job).
Which one should you use?
While en el trabajo refers to being at the physical location of one's workplace, the word trabajando refers to the act of performing labor (working).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, you may hear the slang term en el curro to mean "at work". In some Latin American countries, en la chamba is a colloquial way to say "at work". In Mexico, jale is an informal word used for "work".
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the masculine article el because trabajo is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/en el tɾaˈbaxo/
Did you know?
- The word trabajo shares a distant, much older history with the concept of 'suffering'. The verb trabajar is believed to stem from a Latin root that linked the act of labor with hardship or toil.
- In Mexico, the word jale is used informally for 'work', which literally means 'a pull'.
- The preposition en used in en el trabajo can mean 'in', 'on' or 'at', and Spanish speakers use it regardless of whether the workplace is a large office or a tiny desk.
Examples in context
- Como en el trabajo.I eat at work.This sentence shows how to use en el trabajo when discussing eating.Tatoeba #6730194 by arh, translation #8882004 by mialiesperantistas
- Estoy en el trabajo.I'm at work.This sentence shows how to use en el trabajo to state your current location.Tatoeba #9444302 by Shishir, translation #2247930 by CK
- ¿Estás en el trabajo?Are you at work?This sentence shows how to use en el trabajo to ask someone about their location.Tatoeba #6919757 by diegohn, translation #4401103 by CK
- Estoy en el trabajoI am at work
- Estoy en la oficinaI am at the office
- Estoy en mi lugar de trabajoI am at my workplace
- Ella estará en el trabajo mañanaShe will be at work tomorrow
- ¡Mucho éxito en el trabajo!Good luck at work!
- 42 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía calls Javier during his lunch break.
- Lucía¿Dónde estás, Javier?Where are you, Javier?
- JavierEstoy en el trabajo ahora.I am at work right now.
- LucíaTe llamo más tarde entonces.I'll call you later then.
- JavierVale, hablamos luego, Lucía.Okay, we'll talk later, Lucía.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “at work” translations and entries en el trabajo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries el, en, trabajo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
