trabajar
/tɾabaˈxaɾ/
The Spanish verb trabajar means to work.
To specify a place of employment or a professional field, use the preposition en after the verb, such as in trabajar en (to work at / in). You can also use the phrase ejercer una profesión when specifically talking about working in a certain profession, or trabajar duro to mean to work hard.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Different regions use specific informal terms for working: in Spain, you will commonly hear currar. In Mexico, the verb jalar is often used informally. And in Argentina and Uruguay, laburar is a casual equivalent to trabajar. In Latin America, chambear is a slang term for working or having a job.
How does it change in a sentence?
The gerund form of the verb is trabajando (working). For past tenses, the first-person singular preterite form is trabajé (I worked) and the first-person singular imperfect form is trabajaba (I used to work / I was working).
How do you pronounce it?
/tɾabaˈxaɾ/
Did you know?
- The verb trabajar shares a dark history with the word 'torture', as it derives from the Late Latin word tripālium, which referred to a torture instrument.
- In Argentina and Uruguay, the informal term laburar is derived from the Italian word lavoro, reflecting the massive wave of Italian immigration to the region.
- In several Spanish-speaking cultures, the phrase estoy trabajando can be used as a social signal to decline an invitation or end a conversation without being impolite.
Examples in context
- En esta empresa, es fundamental laborar en equipo para alcanzar nuestros objetivos.In this company, it is essential to work as a team to achieve our goals.
- Para alcanzar el éxito, es necesario trabajar duro y perseverar.To achieve success, it is necessary to work hard and persevere.
- Tengo que trabajar mañana temprano.I have to work early tomorrow.
- Me gusta mucho trabajar aquí.I really like working here.
- Ella va a trabajar en la oficina.She is going to work in the office.
Example conversation
Alejandro and María are talking about their weekend plans.
- Alejandro¿Vas a salir este fin de semana?Are you going out this weekend?
- MaríaNo, tengo que trabajar el sábado.No, I have to work on Saturday.
- AlejandroQué mal, María.That's too bad, María.
- MaríaSí, pero terminaré pronto.Yes, but I will finish soon.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry trabajar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries trabajar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
