salario mínimo
/salaɾjo minimo/from spelling rulesmasculine
The English phrase "minimum wage" is salario mínimo in Spanish. Wiktionary also lists salario mínimo interprofesional and SMI.
Meaning: lowest rate at which an employer must legally pay an employee (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| salario mínimo | /salaɾjo minimo/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| salario mínimo interprofesional | /salaɾjo minimo inteɾpɾofesjonal/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| SMI | /smi/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
salario mínimo refers to the lowest rate at which an employer must legally pay an employee.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Colombia and Ecuador, the term Sueldo Mínimo is widely used. In Spain, the term salario mínimo interprofesional is commonly used.
Did you know?
- The word salario shares an ancient root with the English word 'salt'. This is because a 'salary' originally referred to the money given to Roman soldiers to purchase salt, which was a highly valuable commodity.
- In some Latin American countries, the salario mínimo is calculated as a daily rate rather than a monthly or hourly one.
- While salario mínimo is the general term, people in Spain often use the abbreviation SMI in news headlines and political debates.
Examples in context
- ¿Cuál es el salario mínimo en tu país?What's the minimum wage in your country?This sentence is useful for asking about the minimum wage in a specific country using salario mínimo.Tatoeba #1534705 by hayastan, translation #1534782 by CK
- ¿Cuál es el salario mínimo en Georgia?What's the minimum wage in Georgia?This sentence is useful for asking about the minimum wage in Georgia using salario mínimo.Tatoeba #2944573 by wallebot, translation #2943022 by araneo
- El salario mínimo debería ser abolido.The minimum wage should be abolished.This sentence is useful for expressing an opinion about the minimum wage using salario mínimo.Tatoeba #9767359 by Eremon, translation #5991393 by mailohilohi
- Según la nueva ley, el salario mínimo aumentará el próximo año.According to the new law, the minimum wage will increase next year.
- A pesar de trabajar muchas horas, solo ganaba el sueldo mínimo.Despite working many hours, I was only earning minimum wage.
- Ciertos empleadores pagan menos de la paga mínima establecida.Certain employers pay less than the established minimum wage.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are talking about a new job offer.
- ElenaDaniel, ¿cuánto paga este trabajo?Daniel, how much does this job pay?
- DanielSolo ofrecen el salario mínimo.They only offer the minimum wage.
- ElenaEso es muy poco para vivir.That is very little to live on.
- DanielTienes razón, Elena, es insuficiente.You are right, Elena, it is insufficient.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “minimum wage” translations and entries salario mínimo, SMI, 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 interprofesional, mínimo, salario, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
