vacante
/baˈkante/
The English word vacant is translated into Spanish as vacante.
The word vacante is most frequently used in professional or formal contexts to describe an unoccupied job position or a vacancy, such as in the phrase puesto vacante (vacant position).
Meaning: not occupied (adj)
Which one should you use?
While vacante is used for unoccupied positions or roles, libre is more common for describing unoccupied seats, rooms or available time.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective vacante is invariable in gender, meaning it remains the same for both masculine and feminine nouns. The plural form of vacante is vacantes.
How do you pronounce it?
/baˈkante/
Did you know?
- If you use vacante to describe a seat in a restaurant, you might sound like a government official writing an official decree rather than a person looking for a place to sit.
- While vacante refers to an unfilled role, the word vacío is used for a physical space that contains nothing, such as an empty glass or a void.
- The adjective vacante is built from the verb vacar, which is a rare Spanish verb meaning 'to be vacant' or 'to be empty'.
Examples in context
- El puesto de trabajo está desocupado actualmente.The job position is currently vacant.
- Hay una oficina libre en el tercer piso.There is a vacant office on the third floor.
- Entras, la sala está vacía, no hay nadie.You enter, the room is vacant, there's no one.
- La mesa está desocupada, puedes sentarte ahí.The table is vacant, you can sit there.
- El cargo de gerente está vacante.The position of manager is vacant.
- Hay habitaciones disponibles en el hotel.There are vacant rooms in the hotel.
- Hay plazas libres en el curso.There are vacant spots in the course.
- La posición sigue vacante.The position remains vacant.
- Hay una habitación vacante en este hotel.There is a vacant room in this hotel.
- Buscamos un asiento vacante en el autobús.We are looking for a vacant seat on the bus.
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are at a job agency.
- LucíaHola, ¿tienen algún puesto vacante?Hello, do you have any vacant position?
- AlejandroSí, tenemos una vacante para contador.Yes, we have a vacancy for an accountant.
- LucíaPerfecto, me interesa mucho ese puesto.Perfect, I am very interested in that position.
- AlejandroEntonces, déjame ver tu currículum, Lucía.In that case, let me see your resume, Lucía.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “vacant” translations and entries vacante, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
