estás haciendo un gran trabajo
/estas aθjendo un ɡɾan tɾabaxo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "you're doing a great job" can be translated into Spanish as estás haciendo un gran trabajo.
This phrase is used to praise someone for the high quality of their work or performance. A common and very natural alternative to praise someone's performance is lo estás haciendo muy bien, which translates to "you are doing it very well".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of estás (you are), haciendo (doing), un (a), gran (great) and trabajo (work/job).
Which one should you use?
While trabajo means "job" or "work", it is more common in this context to place the adjective gran (great) before the noun rather than after it.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, you might hear the phrase Estás haciendo muy buen trabajo, which translates to "You're doing very good work".
How does it change in a sentence?
The default form uses the informal tú conjugation estás. To use this phrase in a formal setting, change estás to está.
Did you know?
- The word trabajo is linked to the Latin word 'tripalium', which was a three-staked instrument of torture. This historical connection reflects the grueling nature of physical labor in ancient times.
- In Spanish, placing the adjective gran before the noun changes its meaning from 'big' in size to 'great' in quality or importance.
- If you want to encourage someone to maintain their high quality of work after saying estás haciendo un gran trabajo, you can add the phrase sigue así, which literally means 'continue thus'.
Examples in context
- ¡Excelente trabajo! Tus habilidades comunicativas son impresionantes, y has mantenido a todos cautivados durante la presentación. ¡Lo estás haciendo realmente bien!Excellent work! Your communication skills are impressive, and you have kept everyone captivated during the presentation. You are doing really well!
- ¡Sigue así! Estás haciendo un gran trabajo.Keep it up! You're doing a great job.
- Estás haciendo un gran trabajo con este proyecto.You're doing a great job with this project.
- No te detengas, estás haciendo un gran trabajo.Don't stop, you're doing a great job.
- Sé que estás haciendo un gran trabajo en la cocina.I know you're doing a great job in the kitchen.
Example conversation
Daniel is giving feedback to Lucía about her recent presentation.
- DanielLucía, estás haciendo un gran trabajo.Lucía, you're doing a great job.
- LucíaMuchas gracias, Daniel. Me esfuerzo mucho.Thank you very much, Daniel. I am trying hard.
- DanielSe nota en los resultados finales.It shows in the final results.
- LucíaQué bueno saberlo, me motiva mucho.That's good to know, it motivates me a lot.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gran, trabajo, un, CC BY-SA 4.0.
