contratación
/kontɾataˈθjon/
Hiring in Spanish is contratación.
Contratación refers to the process of employing a new person for a job. In professional environments, you may encounter specific phrases such as el proceso de contratación for 'the hiring process' or gestión de contratación for 'hiring management'. If you are referring to a job offer or a vacancy, use oferta de empleo.
What does it mean word for word?
The word contratación is derived from the verb contratar, which means 'to contract' or 'to hire'.
Which one should you use?
While contratación is the standard term for the act of hiring, incorporación is a formal term specifically used when referring to the act of integrating a new employee into a company or team.
How does it change in a sentence?
Contratación is a feminine noun. Consequently, any adjective used with it must also be feminine, such as in the phrase una contratación masiva.
How do you pronounce it?
/kontɾataˈθjon/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, contratar can mean both 'to hire' and 'to contract a disease'. This means a phrase about 'hiring' could be misread as 'contracting' an illness depending on the context.
- The term plaza is commonly used to refer to a job opening. This is a metaphorical use of the word for a 'public square', treating the job vacancy as a physical space to be filled.
- While contratación is the standard term for the process, you might see the word fichaje used in the context of professional sports or high-profile talent. This term is borrowed from the idea of 'signing' a player to a team.
Examples in context
- Mi amigo me contrató en su empresaMy friend hired me in his company
- Estamos en proceso de contratación para el puesto de gerente de ventasWe are in the process of hiring for the position of sales manager
- La empresa está buscando personal para una nueva sucursalThe company is hiring staff for a new branch
- María fue contratada como diseñadora gráfica en una importante agenciaMaría was hired as a graphic designer in a prominent agency
- La contratación de personal es muy lenta.The hiring of staff is very slow.
- Debemos mejorar el proceso de contratación.We must improve the hiring process.
Example conversation
Two colleagues are talking in the office hallway.
- MaríaDaniel, ¿ya terminó la contratación del nuevo jefe?Daniel, has the hiring of the new boss finished yet?
- DanielSí, María. Ya firmó el contrato ayer.Yes, María. He already signed the contract yesterday.
- MaríaQué bueno. Fue una contratación muy necesaria.That's great. It was a very necessary hire.
- DanielTienes razón, nos ayudará mucho.You are right, he will help us a lot.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry contratación, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
