Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
While recursos humanos is the standard term, you can use Recursos Humanos for a more formal tone. If you are referring specifically to the entire department, Departamento de Recursos Humanos is a formal way to say Department of Human Resources. For written professional documents, the abbreviation RR. HH. is the standard formal way to write HR.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina and Uruguay, the term Relaciones Laborales may be used instead of Recursos Humanos. In Mexico and Colombia, Gestión de Talento is a regional variation used to refer to HR.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase recursos humanos is a masculine plural noun phrase. Because of this, any adjectives that accompany it must also be in the masculine plural form.
Did you know?
- The abbreviation RR. HH. uses double letters because in Spanish, plural abbreviations of multi-word phrases are formed by doubling the initial letters of each word.
- While recursos humanos refers to the department, the word recurso also means 'appeal' in a legal sense, which can create confusion in legal-HR documents.
- In modern corporate Spanish, gestión de talento is often preferred over recursos humanos to move away from the idea of employees being 'resources' to be used.
Examples in context
- Trabaja en Recursos HumanosHe works in human resources
- El Departamento de Recursos Humanos está ubicado en el tercer pisoThe Department of Human Resources is located on the third floor
- Mi hermana trabaja en la gestión de personas de una empresaMy sister works in people management in a company
- Mi amigo está buscando trabajo en el área de personalMy friend is looking for a job in the personnel area
- Estudié Relaciones Laborales en la universidadI studied labor relations in university
- La empresa se enfoca mucho en la gestión de talentoThe company puts a lot of focus on talent management
- Tengo que hablar con recursos humanos.I have to speak with human resources.
- Ella trabaja en recursos humanos.She works in human resources.
- El departamento de recursos humanos es muy grande.The human resources department is very large.
Example conversation
Alejandro and María are talking about a job application at the office.
- Alejandro¿Sabes quién es la nueva directora de recursos humanos?Do you know who the new human resources director is?
- MaríaCreo que es una mujer muy profesional.I think she is a very professional woman.
- AlejandroSí, ella me entrevistó ayer.Yes, she interviewed me yesterday.
- María¡Qué suerte tienes, Alejandro!How lucky you are, Alejandro!
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
