trabajar en
/tɾabaxaɾ en/from spelling rules
To work on in Spanish is trabajar en.
The phrase trabajar en is used when you are spending time and effort to improve or complete a specific task or project.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the continuous action of working on something, you can use the present participle trabajando en. If you want to say 'I worked on' in the first-person singular preterite, use trabajé en.
How do you pronounce it?
/tɾabaxaɾ en/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often omit the preposition en when they mean 'work on' a specific project, but in Spanish, trabajar without en usually refers to the general act of employment rather than the specific task.
Did you know?
- The verb trabajar has a surprisingly dark origin, tracing back to the Latin word tripālium, which refers to a 'torture instrument'.
- In some Latin American countries, trabajar can be used colloquially to mean 'to trick' or 'to manipulate' someone, rather than just putting in effort.
- In Spain, the slang term currar is often used instead of trabajar, and it is thought to be derived from the word for 'leather' or 'skin'.
Examples in context
- ¿Podemos trabajar en eso ahora?Can we work on that now?This sentence is useful for asking about working on a specific thing.Tatoeba #4380927 by saverius, translation #3327786 by CK
- Voy a ir a Australia a trabajar en una granja.I'm going to Australia to work on a farm.This sentence shows how to use the phrase regarding working on a farm.Tatoeba #7927683 by Seael, translation #7633319 by CK
- Me puedo tomar libre el día de Navidad, pero tengo que trabajar en Nochebuena.I can get Christmas Day off, but I have work on Christmas Eve.This sentence illustrates using the phrase to indicate having work on a specific day.Tatoeba #5684148 by arh, translation #5681166 by CK
- Necesito trabajar en este informe antes de la reunión.I need to work on this report before the meeting.
- Estamos trabajando en un proyecto importante.We are working on an important project.
- Estoy realizando un estudio exhaustivo sobre el cambio climático.I am working on an extensive study about climate change.
- La empresa está realizando una auditoría interna.The company is working on an internal audit.
- Vamos a realizar algunas mejoras en el sistema.We are going to work on some improvements to the system.
- Mañana le voy a meter mano al jardín.Tomorrow, I'm going to work on the garden.
- ¿Cuándo piensas meterle mano a ese problema?When do you plan to work on that problem?
- Vamos, ¡hay que meterle mano al desorden!Come on, we need to work on the mess!
- Juan está echándole ganas a su nuevo proyecto.Juan is working hard on his new project.
- Si le echas ganas a tus estudios, tendrás éxito.If you put effort into your studies, you will succeed.
- Vamos, chicos, echemos ganas a este trabajo.Come on, guys, let's work hard on this task.
- ¿En qué estás laburando ahora?What are you working on now?
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Sofía are discussing a presentation for their class.
- AlejandroTengo que trabajar en mi presentación hoy.I have to work on my presentation today.
- Sofía¿Quieres que te ayude con las diapositivas?Do you want me to help you with the slides?
- AlejandroSí, por favor, necesito mejorar la introducción.Yes, please, I need to improve the introduction.
- SofíaPerfecto, podemos trabajar en ella juntos mañana.Perfect, we can work on it together tomorrow.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries en, trabajar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
