colega
“colega” means “colleague” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
colleague
Also: workmate, associate
📝 In Action
Mi colega de departamento me ayudó a terminar el informe.
A2My department colleague helped me finish the report.
La nueva colega es bilingüe y viene de Argentina.
B1The new colleague (female) is bilingual and comes from Argentina.
mate, buddy
Also: pal
📝 In Action
¡Qué pasa, colega! ¿Vamos al cine esta noche?
B1What's up, mate! Shall we go to the cinema tonight?
Ese es mi colega desde la universidad.
B2That's been my buddy since university.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: colega
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses the noun form of 'colega' to refer to a female coworker?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word 'colega' comes from the Latin term *collega*, which literally means 'a partner chosen with.' It has always referred to someone who shares an office, duty, or responsibility with you.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'colega' ever change its ending to match the gender?
No. Unlike most Spanish nouns, 'colega' is always spelled with '-a' at the end, whether you are talking about a man or a woman. The only thing that changes is the word that comes before it, like 'el' or 'la'.
Is 'colega' more formal or informal?
It depends on the context! When referring to a professional associate, it is neutral and acceptable in formal settings. When used as a casual greeting, like '¡Hola, colega!', it is very informal and friendly.