Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| laborador | /laboɾadoɾ/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| currante | /kuˈrante/ | masculine |
| laburante | /labuˈɾante/ | feminine, masculine |
All these terms refer to someone who uses bodily strength to earn a wage.
Which one should you use?
While laborador is the default term, other words are used depending on the social context or specific location. For example, currante implies a hard worker in a casual way and laburante is used in specific parts of South America.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
If you want to be more formal, you can use the phrase trabajador manual (manual worker). For an informal and colloquial tone, use currante to describe a laborer or a hard worker.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The word laburante is common in the Rioplatense region, specifically in Argentina and Uruguay. In Latin American countries, you may hear jornalero. In Spain, the term jornalero rural is a regional variation used to describe an agricultural laborer or farmhand. In Mexico, peón albañil is used specifically to refer to a construction laborer or mason.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun currante is invariable, meaning it stays the same for both masculine and feminine subjects. Similarly, laburante can be used for both masculine and feminine subjects.
How do you pronounce it?
/laboɾadoɾ/
Did you know?
- The word laburante is a product of 'lunfardo', the slang of the Rioplatense region, and is believed to be a modification of the Italian word 'lavoro', which means 'work'.
- The term jornalero specifically refers to a laborer paid by the jornal, which is the wage earned for a single day of work.
- In Spain, you can use currante as a compliment for someone who puts in a lot of effort, even if their job does not involve physical labor.
Examples in context
- Él es un obrero de la construcción.He is a construction laborer.
- Mi padre es un trabajador manual en una fábrica.My father is a manual worker in a factory.
- Los peones están trabajando muy duro hoy.The laborers are working very hard today.
- Los jornaleros están buscando empleo en el campo.The laborers are looking for work in the countryside.
- Necesitamos contratar a un peón albañil para el proyecto.We need to hire a construction laborer for the project.
- Los jornaleros rurales están recolectando frutas en el campo.The agricultural laborers are harvesting fruits in the countryside.
Example conversation
María and Mateo are discussing a home renovation.
- María¿Quién va a mover los escombros?Who is going to move the rubble?
- MateoContraté a un laborador para eso.I hired a laborer for that.
- María¿Cuándo llega Mateo el laborador?When does the laborer arrive?
- MateoLlega mañana por la mañana.He arrives tomorrow morning.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “laborer” translations and entries currante, laburante, 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 currante, CC BY-SA 4.0.
