faena
“faena” means “task” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
task, chore
Also: labor, duty
📝 In Action
Terminé todas mis faenas domésticas antes del mediodía.
B1I finished all my household chores before noon.
Es una faena pesada pero hay que hacerla.
B1It's a heavy task, but it has to be done.
Los agricultores comienzan su faena muy temprano.
B2The farmers begin their work very early.
bummer, dirty trick
Also: shame, nuisance
📝 In Action
¡Qué faena! He perdido el último autobús.
B1What a bummer! I've missed the last bus.
Me hicieron una faena y me dejaron sin entrada.
B2They played a dirty trick on me and left me without a ticket.
Es una faena que tengas que trabajar el domingo.
B2It's a shame that you have to work on Sunday.
bullfighting performance
Also: routine
📝 In Action
El matador realizó una faena brillante en la plaza.
C1The bullfighter carried out a brilliant performance in the ring.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "faena" in Spanish:
bullfighting performance→bummer→chore→dirty trick→duty→labor→nuisance→routine→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: faena
Question 1 of 3
If you missed your flight and said '¡Qué faena!', what do you mean?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From Catalan 'faena', which comes from the Latin 'facienda', meaning 'things that must be done'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'faena' the same as 'trabajo'?
'Trabajo' is the general word for 'job' or 'work.' 'Faena' is more specific, often referring to a particular task, a chore, or a series of chores.
Can I use 'faena' in Mexico?
Yes, but it is less common for 'bummer' (where they might say 'qué mala onda'). In Mexico, it's often used for community work or farm work.
Is 'faena' a bad word?
No, it is not a swear word. However, in Spain, 'hacer una faena' can mean doing something mean or unfair to someone.