oficina
/ofiˈθina/feminine
The English word 'office' is translated into Spanish as oficina, sede or despacho depending on the context.
Meaning: room(s) or building used for non-manual work (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| oficina | /ofiˈθina/ /ofiˈsina/ |
feminine |
| sede | /ˈsede/ | feminine |
| despacho | /desˈpat͡ʃo/ | masculine |
The term oficina is the most widely used word for an office. In certain contexts, sede is used to refer to a main or central office of an organization. Some regions may also use estudio to refer specifically to an architect's office or workplace.
Which one should you use?
While oficina is the general term for an office, despacho often refers specifically to a private office or a professional's study or workspace. Use sede when you mean a headquarters, seat or a main branch of an organization.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of oficina is oficinas, the plural form of despacho is despachos and the plural form of sede is sedes.
How do you pronounce it?
/ofiˈθina/
Did you know?
- Spanish has a related word usina that shares the same Latin ancestor as oficina, though usina now typically refers to a power plant or factory.
- The term sede is used not only for corporate headquarters but also for the 'seat' of an event, such as the host city of the Olympics.
- The word despacho can also refer to a 'dispatch' or 'shipment' in a commercial context, sharing the same root as the action of processing paperwork.
Examples in context
- ¿Voy a tu oficina?Shall I come to your office?This sentence is useful for asking if you should go to someone's oficina.Tatoeba #480039 by Raimondi, translation #70622 by CM
- Está en la oficina.He's at the office.This sentence is useful for stating that someone is at the oficina.Tatoeba #975946 by Shishir, translation #975728 by CN
- Esta es mi oficina.This is my office.This sentence is useful for identifying your own oficina.Tatoeba #1890399 by teskmon, translation #430158 by witbrock
- Tiene una reunión en su despachoHe has a meeting in his office
- Trabajo en una oficinaI work in an office
- La sede de la empresa está en MadridThe company's headquarters is in Madrid
- Ella trabaja en una oficina de abogados.She works in a law firm's office.
- Me encanta mi oficina, es muy espaciosa.I love my office, it's very spacious.
- El jefe está en su despacho, ¿puedo entrar?The boss is in his office, may I go in?
- Mi primo encontró un trabajo en una oficina de turismo.My cousin found a job at a tourist office.
- 397 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and María are talking in a hallway at work.
- DanielMaría, ¿dónde está tu oficina?María, where is your office?
- MaríaMi oficina es al final del pasillo.My office is at the end of the hallway.
- DanielEs una oficina muy grande.It is a very large office.
- MaríaGracias, Daniel.Thank you, Daniel.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “office” translations and entries oficina, sede, despacho, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries despacho, oficina, sede, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
