período de prueba
/peɾiodo de pɾweba/from spelling rules
The English phrase "probation period" is translated into Spanish as período de prueba.
This phrase refers to a trial period at the start of a new job to see if an employee is suitable for a role. To say that an employee is currently undergoing this process, you can use the phrase estar en período de prueba.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of período, which means period and de prueba, which means of trial or of test.
Which one should you use?
The word período can be written with or without an accent on the i as periodo, and both versions are accepted.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, such as Mexico, Colombia or Argentina, the term período de prueba is used.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase plural, only the word período changes to períodos, resulting in períodos de prueba.
How do you pronounce it?
/peɾiodo de pɾweba/
Did you know?
- While English speakers often use 'probation' to describe both a trial period and a period of criminal supervision, in Spanish, these are different concepts. For a criminal's supervised release, one would typically use libertad condicional rather than período de prueba.
- The word período and the English word 'period' both trace their ancestry back to the Ancient Greek word 'perĭ́odos', which literally means 'a going round in a circle'.
- In Spanish, a school 'test' and a courtroom 'trial' are both called a prueba, showing that the concept of 'testing' spans education and law.
Examples in context
- El empleado está sujeto a un período de prueba de tres mesesThe employee is subject to a probation period of three months
- Durante la etapa de evaluación, se determinará la idoneidad del candidatoDuring the probation period, the suitability of the candidate will be determined
- En mi nuevo trabajo, tengo un periodo de prueba de seis mesesIn my new job, I have a probation period of six months
- Estoy en el período de pruebas de mi nuevo empleoI'm in the probation period of my new job
- El período de prueba dura tres meses.The probation period lasts three months.
- Estoy en mi período de prueba.I am in my probation period.
- Superó el período de prueba con éxito.He passed the probation period successfully.
Example conversation
María and Javier are discussing a new job opportunity at a cafe.
- María¿Es un contrato fijo o un período de prueba?Is it a permanent contract or a probation period?
- JavierPrimero es un período de prueba de un mes.First, it is a one-month probation period.
- MaríaEspero que te vaya muy bien, Javier.I hope it goes very well for you, Javier.
- JavierGracias, María, estoy muy emocionado.Thanks, María, I am very excited.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, período, prueba, CC BY-SA 4.0.
