se busca personal
/se buska peɾsonal/from spelling rules
The English phrase "help wanted" can be translated into Spanish as se busca personal.
This phrase is used to indicate that a position of employment is open. You will most commonly see it on signs displayed in shop windows or within newspaper classified advertisements.
Meaning: a position of employment is open (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of se (an impersonal marker), busca (seeks or looks for) and personal (staff or personnel).
Which one should you use?
While se busca personal is the standard way to express that staff is being sought, you may also encounter Se necesita personal to mean "personnel needed" or Solicitamos personal to mean "we request personnel".
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase se busca personal, the verb busca is in the third-person singular because it agrees with the singular collective noun personal.
Did you know?
- While se busca personal is used for jobs, the phrase se busca is also the standard way to write 'wanted' posters for criminals or missing persons.
- The word personal shares the same Latin root as the English word 'person', which originally referred to a theatrical mask.
- The word personal can be a 'false friend' for English speakers, as it is used as a noun meaning 'staff' rather than just an adjective meaning 'private'.
Examples in context
- Se busca personal para un nuevo restaurante en Madrid.Help wanted for a new restaurant in Madrid.
- Se necesita personal para cubrir puestos de atención al cliente.Help wanted to fill customer service positions.
- Solicitamos personal con experiencia en ventas para nuestra tienda.Help wanted: sales experience required for our store.
- Se busca ayuda para mudanza este fin de semana.Help wanted for moving this weekend.
- Ayuda necesaria para organizar la fiesta de cumpleaños.Help wanted to organize the birthday party.
- Se busca personal para la nueva tienda.Help is wanted for the new store.
- Vimos un cartel que decía: se busca personal.We saw a sign that said: help wanted.
- En el restaurante se busca personal de cocina.The restaurant is looking for kitchen staff.
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are walking past a cafe with a sign in the window.
- JavierLucía, mira, se busca personal en ese café.Lucía, look, help is wanted in that cafe.
- Lucía¿De verdad? Deberíamos preguntar por el puesto.Really? We should ask about the position.
- JavierTengo tiempo para ir a hablar con ellos.I have time to go talk to them.
- LucíaEstá bien, vamos a ver si hay suerte.Okay, let's go see if we get lucky.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries busca, personal, se, CC BY-SA 4.0.
