Inklingo
Dictionary

empleada

em-ple-AH-dahempeˈlaða

“empleada” means “employee” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:

employeeA1Noun

a woman who works for a company or person

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housekeeperA2Noun

a woman who works in a home

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employedB1Adjective

having a job

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employeeAlso: worker

NounfA1
A professional woman in business attire sitting at a desk with a laptop and a small desk plant.

📝 In Action

La nueva empleada del banco es muy amable.

A1

The bank's new employee is very kind.

Hay más de cien empleadas en esta fábrica.

A2

There are more than one hundred female employees in this factory.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • jefa (boss)
  • patrona (employer/owner)

Common Collocations

  • empleada del mes – employee of the month
  • empleada pública – government worker

housekeeperAlso: maid

NounfA2
Latin America
A woman in a clean apron holding a feather duster and a basket of laundry in a cozy living room.

📝 In Action

La empleada viene los lunes para limpiar.

A2

The housekeeper comes on Mondays to clean.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • mucama (maid (Latin America))
  • asistenta (cleaning lady (Spain))

Common Collocations

  • empleada de hogar – domestic worker

employed

AdjectivefB1
A happy woman wearing a work ID badge around her neck, smiling brightly.

📝 In Action

Ella se siente feliz porque ahora está empleada.

B1

She feels happy because she is now employed.

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "empleada" in Spanish:

housekeepermaidworker

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: empleada

Question 1 of 1

Which of these refers specifically to a woman who has a job?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
empleado(male employee) — Noun
emplear(to employ/use) — Verb
empleo(job/employment) — Noun
desempleada(unemployed woman) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes
nadallegadallamada
📚 Etymology

From the verb 'emplear', which comes from an old French word meaning 'to involve' or 'to apply', originally from a Latin word 'implicare' which meant 'to fold into'.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: employeeFrench: employée

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'empleada' for a group of workers?

Only if the entire group consists of women. If there is at least one man in the group, use the masculine plural 'empleados'.

Is 'empleada' ever used for things?

Yes, as a description. For example, 'la fuerza empleada' means 'the force used'.