Estoy en el trabajo
/estoi en el tɾabaxo/from spelling rules
To say "I am at work" in Spanish, use Estoy en el trabajo.
This phrase is used to state that you are currently at your place of employment. You might also use Estoy trabajando to mean "I am working."
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase en el trabajo literally translates to "at the work" or "in the work".
Which one should you use?
Use Estoy en el trabajo to describe your current location. If you simply say Trabajo, you are stating "I work" as a general habit or profession.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Regional variations include the colloquial Estoy en el curro used in Spain, the slang Estoy en el laburo found in some Latin American countries like Argentina or Uruguay, the informal Estoy en la pega in Chile and the colloquial Mexican phrases Estoy en el jale or Estoy chambando.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb used is the form Estoy from the verb *estar*. This is used because you are describing a temporary location or state rather than a permanent characteristic.
Did you know?
- The word trabajo shares a distant ancestral link with 'three' through the Proto-Indo-European root *tri-.
- In Argentina and Uruguay, you might hear the word laburo used for work, which is a direct linguistic fingerprint of Italian immigration to those regions.
- If you are in Chile, you can use the informal phrase Estoy en la pega to tell someone you are at your job.
Examples in context
- No puedo hablar ahora, estoy en el trabajo.I cannot talk now, I am at work.
- Estoy en el trabajo ahora mismo.I am at work right now.
- ¿Puedes hablar? No, estoy en el trabajo.Can you talk? No, I am at work.
- No puedo ir al cine porque estoy en el trabajo.I cannot go to the cinema because I am at work.
Example conversation
A phone call between two friends during the afternoon.
- MateoHola Sofía, ¿estás libre para almorzar?Hello Sofía, are you free for lunch?
- SofíaNo puedo, Mateo, estoy en el trabajo.I can't, Mateo, I am at work.
- MateoEntiendo, ¿terminas pronto?I understand, do you finish soon?
- SofíaSí, salgo en una hora.Yes, I leave in an hour.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries el, en, trabajo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
