Which one should you use?
While buen trabajo is the more common and standard way to say "good job", excelente trabajo is used specifically to emphasize a high level of quality or excellence.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, you can use the informal phrase ¡Buenísimo trabajo! to say "Terrific job!" For a formal way to say "Congratulations on the excellent job!", use ¡Felicitaciones por el excelente trabajo!
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase is grammatically masculine because the noun trabajo is masculine. If you choose to use the synonym labor instead of trabajo, the phrase becomes excelente labor. Because labor is feminine, the adjective excelente remains the same as it does not change its spelling in this case.
How do you pronounce it?
/eɡsθelente tɾabaxo/
When do people say it?
Depending on the level of enthusiasm or the specific context, you might use other expressions such as ¡Excelente trabajo! (Excellent job!), ¡Buen trabajo! (Good job!), ¡Gran trabajo! (Great job!), ¡Magnífico trabajo! (Magnificent job!), ¡Muy bien! (Very good!), ¡Guau, qué buen trabajo! (Wow, what a good job!) or even ¡Bravo! (Bravo!).
Did you know?
- In certain Spanish-speaking regions, the phrase ¡Qué buen trabajo! is used sarcastically to describe a total disaster or a mess.
- The word trabajo is an unexpected relative of the English word 'three', as both trace back to ancient roots involving the number three.
- The word labor can refer to a specific professional task, but it is also used to describe the biological process of childbirth.
Examples in context
- Hiciste un excelente trabajo.You did an excellent job.Tatoeba #1178730 by marcelostockle, translation #16171 by Swift
- ¡Todos estamos muy agradecidos a los programadores de Tatoeba que han hecho un excelente trabajo para ayudarnos!We're all very grateful to the programmers of Tatoeba who have done an excellent job helping us!Tatoeba #10671582 by Shishir, translation #12207667 by Miktsoanit
- Juan, ¡excelente trabajo en completar el proyecto a tiempo!Juan, excellent job on completing the project on time!
- María, has hecho un trabajo absolutamente magnífico en la presentación.María, you have done an absolutely magnificent job on the presentation.
- Pablo, tu manejo del proyecto ha sido excepcional.Pablo, your project management has been exceptional.
- ¡Manuel, qué buen trabajo has hecho en redecorar tu habitación!Manuel, what a great job you've done in redecorating your room!
- Has hecho un excelente trabajo con este informe.You have done an excellent job with this report.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A boss is praising an employee in an office.
- MateoElena, has hecho un excelente trabajo.Elena, you have done an excellent job.
- ElenaMuchas gracias, Mateo. Me esforcé mucho.Thank you very much, Mateo. I worked very hard.
- MateoSe nota mucho la calidad de tu esfuerzo.The quality of your effort really shows.
- ElenaMe alegra mucho escuchar eso.I am very happy to hear that.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries excelente, trabajo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
