despacho
/des-PAH-choh/
office
A private workroom or office is often referred to as a 'despacho'.
despacho(noun)
office
?private workroom
,study
?home office/library
consulting room
?doctor's or therapist's office
📝 In Action
El abogado tiene su despacho en el tercer piso.
A2The lawyer has his office on the third floor.
Necesito ir a mi despacho para terminar este informe.
B1I need to go to my study to finish this report.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Note
Remember that 'despacho' is masculine (el despacho), even though many other words ending in '-o' are masculine.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Office vs. Firm
Mistake: "Using 'despacho' for a large, open-plan corporate office."
Correction: Use 'oficina' for large corporate spaces. 'Despacho' usually implies a smaller, private room or a specific type of professional firm (like a law firm).
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Context
Using 'despacho' often sounds more formal or specialized than 'oficina,' particularly when referring to a lawyer, architect, or high-level executive's private room.
In a formal context, 'despacho' can refer to a business or law firm.
despacho(noun)
firm
?business or law practice
,dispatch
?the act of sending something
service
?attending to clients
,shipment
?delivery of goods
📝 In Action
El despacho de la mercancía se retrasó por la aduana.
B2The dispatch (shipment) of the merchandise was delayed by customs.
Contratamos un despacho de arquitectura muy prestigioso.
B1We hired a very prestigious architecture firm.
💡 Grammar Points
Action Noun
In this sense, 'despacho' means the action of 'despachar' (to send or attend to), turning a verb action into a masculine noun.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
If you hear 'el despacho' used in logistics or commerce, it almost certainly means 'shipment' or 'clearance,' not a physical room.
The verb form 'despacho' means 'I dispatch' or 'I send out'.
despacho(verb)
I dispatch
?I send out
,I serve
?I attend to a client
I deal with
?I handle a task quickly
📝 In Action
Yo despacho todos los pedidos antes de las cinco.
A2I dispatch (send out) all the orders before five o'clock.
En el banco, yo despacho a los clientes que necesitan retirar efectivo.
B1At the bank, I serve the clients who need to withdraw cash.
💡 Grammar Points
Verbal Root
This form uses the regular '-ar' verb pattern. The noun 'despacho' (office) is derived directly from the action of this verb (to process/send out work).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Parts of Speech
Mistake: "Using 'yo despacho' when trying to say 'my office' (mi despacho)."
Correction: When it's the noun, it needs a definite article ('el despacho'). When it's the verb, it usually follows the subject pronoun 'yo' (I).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: despacho
Question 1 of 2
Which of these sentences uses 'despacho' as a physical location?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'despacho' and 'oficina'?
'Oficina' is the general word for office (like a corporate floor or a specific department). 'Despacho' is often used specifically for a private, individual office (like a boss's room or a doctor's consulting room) or for a professional firm (like a law firm or consulting agency).
Is 'despacho' related to 'despachar'?
Yes, absolutely! The noun 'despacho' (office/dispatch) is derived from the verb 'despachar' (to dispatch, to serve, or to handle business). The word 'despacho' is also the 'yo' (I) form of the verb in the present tense.