trabajar
/tɾabaˈxaɾ/
To do work in Spanish is to trabajar.
The phrase is used to describe engaging in physical or mental effort to achieve a result or to earn money.
Which one should you use?
While trabajar is the standard term, you may encounter more specific variations. Ejercer labores is used when referring to carrying out specific tasks or functions in an official capacity, whereas currar and chambear are much more casual.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the informal verb currar is commonly used to mean work. In Mexico, the slang term chambear is used to express doing work.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say you worked in the past (first-person singular preterite), use trabajé. To express the continuous action of working (the gerund), use trabajando.
How do you pronounce it?
/tɾabaˈxaɾ/
Did you know?
- The verb trabajar shares a grim root with the concept of torture. It stems from the Late Latin word tripālium, which referred to a torture instrument used to inflict torment.
- Linguistic history suggests that the Mexican slang term chambear might actually be a phonetic evolution of the English word 'chamber'. It likely refers to the specific rooms where manual laborers were once stationed.
- Despite describing the same act, the English word 'labor' and the Spanish trabajar come from entirely different Latin roots, one meaning 'effort' and the other 'torment'.
Examples in context
- Tienes que trabajar.You must do work.This sentence is useful for expressing a necessity to use trabajar.Tatoeba #1443945 by marcelostockle, translation #69365 by al_ex_an_der
- Ella trabaja en una oficina.She works in an office.
- Debemos realizar el trabajo a tiempo.We must complete the work on time.
- El presidente ejerce labores de liderazgo.The president carries out leadership duties.
- ¿Trabajas los fines de semana?Do you work on weekends?
- Juan está currando en la construcción.Juan is working in construction.
- Voy a chambear todo el día.I'm going to work all day.
- Tengo que laburar horas extras esta semana.I have to work overtime this week.
- Él tiene que trabajar mañana.He has to work tomorrow.
- Me gusta trabajar en la oficina.I like to work in the office.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are talking about their plans for Monday.
- Lucía¿Vas a trabajar mañana, Javier?Are you going to work tomorrow, Javier?
- JavierNo, no me toca trabajar.No, it is not my turn to work.
- LucíaQué suerte tienes.How lucky you are.
- JavierGracias, Lucía.Thank you, Lucía.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry trabajar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries trabajar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
