cómo va el trabajo
/komo ba el tɾabaxo/from spelling rules
In Spanish, the phrase for "how is work" is cómo va el trabajo.
This phrase is used to ask about the general progress or state of someone's professional tasks or job in general.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "how goes the work".
Which one should you use?
While cómo va el trabajo? translates to "How is work going?", other variations like ¿Cómo le va en el trabajo? or ¿Cómo te va en el trabajo? shift the focus to how things are going for the person at work.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase cómo va el trabajo, the verb va is the third-person singular present indicative of ir (to go), used here to indicate progress.
Did you know?
- The word trabajo originates from the Latin tripālium, which was a three-staked instrument used for torture.
- Spanish speakers often use cómo va as a general greeting similar to 'what is up' even when no specific task or job is being discussed.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, asking cómo va el trabajo is often considered a polite way to open a conversation, but it can also be seen as a way to signal interest in someone's personal stability.
Examples in context
- ¿Cómo está su trabajo, señor Rodríguez?How is your work, Mr. Rodríguez?
- ¿Cómo va el trabajo?How is work going?
- ¿Cómo te va en el trabajo?How is it going at work for you?
- ¿Cómo va el trabajo en la nueva oficina?How is work going at the new office?
- Dime, ¿cómo va el trabajo últimamente?Tell me, how is work going lately?
- ¿Cómo va el trabajo de diseño?How is the design work going?
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are catching up over coffee.
- SofíaHola Alejandro, ¿cómo va el trabajo?Hi Alejandro, how is work going?
- AlejandroMuy bien, pero estoy muy ocupado.Very well, but I am very busy.
- SofíaMe alegra saber que todo va bien.I am glad to know that everything is going well.
- AlejandroGracias, Sofía, eres muy amable.Thanks, Sofia, you are very kind.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cómo, el, trabajo, va, CC BY-SA 4.0.
