Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| trabajo | /tɾaˈbaxo/ | masculine |
| empleo | /emˈpleo/ | masculine |
| brete | /ˈbɾete/ | Costa Rica, colloquial, masculine |
| camello | /kaˈmeʝo/ | Colombia, Ecuador, masculine |
| chamba | /ˈt͡ʃamba/ /ˈʃamba/ (Chile, alternative) |
Mexico, Peru, feminine |
| curro | /ˈkuro/ | Spain, masculine |
| laburo | /laˈbuɾo/ | Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, masculine |
| pega | /ˈpeɡa/ | Chile, feminine |
| talacha | /taˈlat͡ʃa/ | Mexico, feminine |
| cheje | /t͡ʃexe/ (from spelling rules) | Central America, masculine |
| jale | /ˈxale/ | Mexico, masculine |
| yob | /ʝob/ (from spelling rules) | US, masculine |
The primary term for an economic role for which a person is paid is trabajo. It is a general and common term used in any formal context. It can also refer to the act of working or 'work' in general. If you wish to emphasize the profession or occupation aspect, you can use ocupación.
Which one should you use?
While trabajo is the most common term, empleo is more formal and specifically refers to a position of employment or a job vacancy.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Trabajo is a general and common term used in any formal context, whereas empleo is more formal. Various slang and colloquial terms exist for informal situations, such as curro in Spain or chamba in Mexico and Peru.
Is it said differently in some regions?
There are many regional variations for the word job: brete is a colloquial masculine noun used in Costa Rica. camello is a masculine noun used in Colombia and Ecuador. chamba and talacha are feminine nouns used in Mexico. chamba is also used in Peru. curro is a masculine noun used in Spain. laburo is a masculine noun used in Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. pega is a feminine noun used in Chile. cheje is a masculine noun used in Central America. jale is a masculine noun used in Mexico. And yob is a masculine noun used in the US.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
In the context of a noun, trabajo is masculine. However, it is also the first-person singular present indicative form of the verb trabajar (to work), meaning 'I work'.
How do you pronounce it?
/tɾaˈbaxo/
Did you know?
- The slang word camello can also mean 'drug dealer' because early 20th-century dealers hid contraband in fake cardboard humps on their backs.
- In Argentina and Uruguay, the word laburo for 'job' is derived from the Italian word lavoro.
- In Colombia and Ecuador, the word for 'job' is camello, which literally translates to 'camel'.
Examples in context
- Yo sé mi trabajo.I know my job.This sentence shows how to use trabajo to express knowing one's job.Tatoeba #4603191 by Francisco_M, translation #2376093 by CK
- Tom ama su empleo.Tom loves his job.This sentence shows how to use empleo to express loving one's job.Tatoeba #1198299 by marcelostockle, translation #1164436 by CK
- Ese es tu trabajo.That's your job.This sentence shows how to use trabajo to indicate someone's job.Tatoeba #1898712 by marcelostockle, translation #1897832 by CK
- Estoy buscando trabajoI am looking for a job.
- ¿Cuál es tu ocupación?What is your job?
- Encontré un empleoI found a job.
- Recientemente, encontré un nuevo empleoRecently, I found a new job.
- 1043 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Elena are talking at a cafe about their careers.
- Javier¿Te gusta tu nuevo trabajo?Do you like your new job?
- ElenaSí, es un trabajo muy interesante.Yes, it is a very interesting job.
- JavierMe alegra que estés contenta con el trabajo.I am glad you are happy with the job.
- ElenaGracias, Javier. Es un gran cambio para mí.Thanks, Javier. It is a big change for me.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “job” translations and entries trabajo, empleo, brete, camello, chamba, curro, laburo, pega, talacha, cheje, jale, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries camello, empleo, trabajo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
