vacante
/baˈkante/
The English phrase "job vacancy" is translated into Spanish as vacante.
The term refers to an available position at a company that is waiting to be filled by a new employee. While vacante can stand alone to mean a vacancy, you may also use vacante de empleo to be more explicit when specifying a job vacancy. In many professional and administrative contexts across Spain and Latin America, the term plaza vacante is frequently used to refer to a specific job opening or slot.
Which one should you use?
Vacante de trabajo is a formal way to say "job vacancy" and Oportunidad laboral is a formal way to express "job opportunity".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the term vacante laboral is frequently used to mean "job vacancy". In Spain, the phrase oferta de trabajo can be used to refer to a job vacancy.
How does it change in a sentence?
vacante is a noun that can be used with both masculine and feminine articles, though it is most commonly used as a feminine noun (la vacante) when referring to a job position.
How do you pronounce it?
/baˈkante/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, a plaza is not just a town square but is the standard term for a budgeted government job slot.
- The phrase concurso de plazas describes a formal system where candidates compete in standardized exams to win one of several job vacancies.
- The word vacante shares a deep ancestral connection with the English word 'vacant', as both stem from the Latin verb 'vacare', meaning 'to be empty' or 'to be free'.
Examples in context
- Nuestra empresa actualmente tiene una oportunidad laboral para un profesional con experiencia en marketing.Our company currently has a job opportunity for an experienced marketing professional.
- ¡Oye amigo, sé de un trabajo disponible en la tienda de Sam! Te puedo pasar el contacto si estás interesado.Hey buddy, I know of an available job at Sam's store! I can give you the contact if you're interested.
- Mi cuñado me dijo que hay un empleo vacante en su empresa. ¿Quieres que te dé más detalles?My brother-in-law told me there's a job vacancy at his company. Do you want me to give you more details?
- Hay una vacante en el departamento de ventas.There is a job vacancy in the sales department.
- Busco una vacante de programador en esta empresa.I am looking for a programmer job vacancy in this company.
- Aún no han publicado la nueva vacante.They haven't published the new job vacancy yet.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are talking about his career at a coffee shop.
- Alejandro¿Sabes si hay alguna vacante disponible?Do you know if there is any job vacancy available?
- LucíaCreo que hay una vacante para administrativo.I think there is a job vacancy for an administrative assistant.
- AlejandroGracias, voy a enviar mi currículum.Thanks, I am going to send my resume.
- Lucía¡Mucha suerte con la solicitud, Alejandro!Good luck with the application, Alejandro!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry vacante, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries vacante, CC BY-SA 4.0.
