Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| profesional | /pɾofesjoˈnal/ |
| en el entorno laboral | /en el entoɾno laboɾal/ (from spelling rules) |
As an adjective, profesional describes something that pertains to or follows the standards of a profession. It can also be used as a noun to refer to a person who belongs to a profession or someone who earns their living through a specific activity.
Which one should you use?
The word profesional can serve as both an adjective and a noun. In certain contexts, such as referring to a person's career setting, one might use the phrase en el entorno laboral.
Is it said differently in some regions?
When referring to a person who belongs to a profession or earns their living from a specific activity, the term profesionista is often used in Mexico instead of profesional.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective profesional is invariant for gender, so it remains the same whether describing a masculine or feminine noun. To form the plural, add -es to the end of the word to get profesionales.
How do you pronounce it?
/pɾofesjoˈnal/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, describing someone as un profesional can sometimes be used ironically to imply they are actually being quite incompetent.
- In Spanish, describing someone as muy profesional often refers to their emotional composure and etiquette rather than just their technical skill.
- The word entorno in the phrase en el entorno laboral is etymologically related to the word torno, which means a lathe or a spinning tool.
Examples in context
- No soy un profesional.I am not a professional.This sentence is useful for expressing that you are not a profesional.Tatoeba #4738510 by DarkHollow, translation #4606056 by lite
- Yo soy fotógrafo profesional.I'm a professional photographer.This sentence is useful for describing a photographer as a profesional.Tatoeba #2631132 by cueyayotl, translation #2628724 by CK
- Tom es un bailarín profesional.Tom is a professional dancer.This sentence is useful for describing a dancer as a profesional.Tatoeba #1494602 by marcelostockle, translation #1494225 by Spamster
- Como profesional en mi campo, siempre me esfuerzo por brindar un excelente servicio a mis clientes.As a professional in my field, I always strive to provide excellent service to my clients.
- Eres un profesional en lo que haces, ¡felicidades por el éxito de tu negocio!You're a professional in what you do. Congratulations on the success of your business!
- 38 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are discussing a colleague's behavior at work.
- MateoSu actitud no es muy profesional.His attitude is not very professional.
- LucíaTienes razón, Mateo. Fue muy grosero.You are right, Mateo. He was very rude.
- MateoDebemos mantener un comportamiento profesional aquí.We must maintain professional behavior here.
- LucíaEstoy de acuerdo, Lucía lo hará así.I agree, Lucía will do it that way.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “professional” translations and entries profesional, 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 el, en, entorno, profesional, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
