Spanish word

trabajar

Pronunciation

IPA/tɾaβaˈxaɾ/

Meaning

  • verbwork

Example

¿Dónde trabajas?

Where do you work?

Illustration for trabajar (work)

More examples

Mañana tendré que trabajar hasta tarde.

Tomorrow I will have to work late.

Core concept

Hands applying continuous effort to a task or machine.

Common phrases

  • trabajar a tiempo completo

    work full time

  • trabajar desde casa

    work from home

  • trabajar en equipo

    work as part of a team

  • trabajar horas extra

    work extra hours

Similar words

laburar: Do paid work in informal speech in parts of South America.
currar: Do paid work in casual, colloquial speech in Spain.
chambear: Do paid work in informal Mexican and nearby regional speech.
laborar: Perform work in formal or written contexts.

Definition in Spanish

Realizar una actividad laboral para obtener ingresos o cumplir una función social, y también aplicar esfuerzo o tiempo en una tarea o poner en funcionamiento algo.

Word origin

The verb comes from Latin tripaliare 'to torment' (from tripalium), with a medieval semantic shift from causing pain to sustained effort and toil that produces modern trabajar.

Usage tips

  • When referring to machines or systems, trabajar often describes whether they operate properly rather than paid employment, so it commonly appears with words like máquina, motor, or sistema.

Other meanings

  • work onverb
  • functionverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word