ocupación secundaria
/okupaθjon sekundaɾja/from spelling rulesfeminine
The English phrase side hustle can be translated into Spanish as ocupación secundaria. Wiktionary also lists emprendimiento adicional.
Meaning: secondary job (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ocupación secundaria | /okupaθjon sekundaɾja/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /okupasjon sekundaɾja/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine |
| emprendimiento adicional | /empɾendimjento adiθjonal/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /empɾendimjento adisjonal/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
masculine |
Which one should you use?
ocupación secundaria is used when you want to sound more formal or professional, such as in a CV or a business context. emprendimiento adicional can also be used. In casual conversation, native speakers are more likely to say un trabajo extra to describe a side hustle.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In many Latin American countries, the slang phrase chamba extra is used to refer to a side hustle.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of ocupación secundaria is ocupaciones secundarias, where both the noun and the adjective are pluralized. The plural form of emprendimiento adicional is emprendimientos adicionales, where both the noun and the adjective are pluralized.
How do you pronounce it?
/okupaθjon sekundaɾja/
Did you know?
- In some Latin American contexts, a side hustle is referred to as un rebusque, which evokes the idea of 'searching' or 'scrounging' for any available way to make money.
- The term chamba for work is so common in Mexico and Central America that it has its own verb, chambear, meaning to work or to hustle.
- The root of ocupación traces back to the Latin 'occupare', which literally meant 'to seize' or 'to take possession of', suggesting the act of filling one's time.
Examples in context
- Tengo un trabajo adicional como diseñador gráfico.I have an additional job as a graphic designer.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their finances at a cafe.
- LucíaAlejandro, ¿tienes alguna ocupación secundaria ahora?Alejandro, do you have a side hustle now?
- AlejandroSí, vendo muebles antiguos los fines de semana.Yes, I sell antique furniture on weekends.
- Lucía¡Qué bien! Yo también quiero empezar una.That's great! I want to start one too.
- AlejandroEs una buena idea para ahorrar dinero.It is a good idea to save money.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “side hustle” translations, 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 adicional, emprendimiento, ocupación, secundaria, CC BY-SA 4.0.
