informal elegante
/infoɾmal eleɡante/from spelling rules
The English phrase business casual is translated into Spanish as informal elegante.
Meaning: standard of dress (adj)
Which one should you use?
While informal elegante is a standard way to express this, the phrase casual elegante is also used interchangeably to mean business casual, particularly in professional contexts in Latin America.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because both informal and elegante are adjectives, they must agree in gender and number with the noun they are modifying. For example, you would say vestimenta informal elegante to use the feminine singular form to match the noun 'clothing'.
How do you pronounce it?
/infoɾmal eleɡante/
Did you know?
- While informal elegante describes the dress code, a person who dresses in this style is often called arreglado pero informal, which literally means 'fixed up but informal'.
- In some Spanish corporate cultures, the word informal can imply that a person is 'disorganized' rather than just dressed casually.
- In many Spanish-speaking business environments, what an English speaker calls 'business casual' might still be perceived as quite informal, as professional standards often lean more towards 'formal' than in the US or UK.
Examples in context
- Hoy llevo ropa casual de negocios para la reunión con los clientes.Today I'm wearing business casual attire for the client meeting.
- Debemos mantener un atuendo informal para el trabajo, pero sin descuidar la apariencia profesional.We should maintain an informal work attire, but without neglecting our professional appearance.
- Hoy debo vestir informal elegante.Today I must dress business casual.
- El código de vestimenta es informal elegante.The dress code is business casual.
- No es necesario ir de traje, solo informal elegante.It is not necessary to wear a suit, just business casual.
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are discussing what to wear to a work event.
- Daniel¿Qué nos vamos a poner para la cena?What are we going to wear for the dinner?
- ElenaMe dijeron que es informal elegante.They told me it is business casual.
- DanielPerfecto, entonces no usaré corbata.Perfect, then I won't wear a tie.
- ElenaYo también me pondré algo más relajado.I will also wear something more relaxed.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
