voluntario
/bolunˈtaɾjo/
The Spanish word for 'volunteer' is voluntario.
As a noun, voluntario refers to someone who voluntarily offers themselves for service. To express the action of volunteering for a specific task, it is most natural to use the phrase ofrecerse voluntario rather than using a single verb.
Meaning: one who voluntarily offers themselves for service (noun)
Which one should you use?
While you can use the verb voluntariarse (or its variations avoluntariarse and envoluntariarse) to mean enlisting oneself as a volunteer, the phrase ofrecerse voluntario is the most natural way to say one is volunteering for a specific job or action.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun changes based on gender and number: voluntaria is the feminine form, voluntarios is the masculine or mixed-gender plural and voluntarias is the feminine plural.
How do you pronounce it?
/bolunˈtaɾjo/
Did you know?
- The verb voluntariarse is used in some Latin American countries but is considered an Anglicism by the Royal Spanish Academy, as it mimics the English verb 'to volunteer'.
- When a group consists of even one male voluntario, the plural form voluntarios is used for the whole group, regardless of how many voluntarias are present.
- In Spanish, the concept of volunteering is often framed as 'offering oneself' as a volunteer, which highlights the personal agency involved in the act.
Examples in context
- Iba a pedir un voluntario.I was going to ask for a volunteer.This sentence is useful for learning how to use voluntario when asking for someone.Tatoeba #2532446 by Shishir, translation #2531351 by CK
- Tom se ofreció voluntario rápidamente.Tom was very quick to volunteer.This sentence shows how to use voluntario to describe someone offering themselves for a task.Tatoeba #2532447 by Shishir, translation #2531352 by CK
- Esperaba que te ofrecieras voluntario.I was hoping you'd volunteer.This sentence demonstrates the use of voluntario when expressing a hope that someone will volunteer.Tatoeba #2532449 by Shishir, translation #2531350 by CK
- Me gustaría ser voluntario en un centro de atención a animales.I would like to be a volunteer at an animal care center.
- Ella es una voluntaria en la organización benéfica local.She is a volunteer at the local charity organization.
- Decidí trabajar como voluntario en un hospital infantil.I decided to work as a volunteer at a children's hospital.
- Ella quiere trabajar como voluntaria en la escuela de su hijo.She wants to work as a volunteer at her child's school.
- Vamos a hacer voluntariado en el comedor comunitario este fin de semana. ¡Te unes?We are going to do volunteering at the community kitchen this weekend. Do you want to join us?
- Él siempre hace voluntariado en el refugio de personas sin hogar.He always does volunteering at the homeless shelter.
- Mi hermana y yo somos voluntarios en la organización de ayuda mutua del vecindario.My sister and I are volunteers at the neighborhood mutual aid organization.
- ¿Quieres ser voluntaria en el evento benéfico de la semana que viene?Do you want to be a volunteer at the charity event next week?
- 17 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a local community center during an event planning meeting.
- Mateo¿Buscas un voluntario para el evento?Are you looking for a volunteer for the event?
- ElenaSí, necesito un voluntario para la recepción.Yes, I need a volunteer for the reception.
- MateoYo puedo ser ese voluntario.I can be that volunteer.
- Elena¡Gracias, Mateo! Eres muy amable.Thank you, Mateo! You are very kind.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “volunteer” translations and entries voluntario, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
