labor
“labor” means “work” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
work, labor
Also: task, mission
📝 In Action
Su labor en la comunidad es admirable.
B1Their work in the community is admirable.
Es una labor difícil pero muy necesaria.
B1It is a difficult but very necessary task.
Reconocieron la labor de los científicos durante la crisis.
B2They recognized the work of the scientists during the crisis.
needlework
Also: handicraft
📝 In Action
Mi tía siempre tiene una labor de punto entre manos.
C1My aunt always has some knitting needlework in her hands.
Vendían labores de encaje muy finas en la plaza.
C1They were selling very fine lace needlework in the square.
Esta labor requiere mucha precisión.
C2This needlework requires a lot of precision.
tilling
Also: farming work
📝 In Action
Las labores del campo comienzan muy temprano.
B2Farming tasks begin very early.
Es tiempo de las labores de siembra.
B2It is time for the planting tasks.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "labor" in Spanish:
farming work→handicraft→labor→mission→needlework→task→tilling→work→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: labor
Question 1 of 3
Which of the following is the correct way to say 'The social work'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'labor', which meant 'effort', 'exertion', or 'hardship'. It originally emphasized the struggle involved in working.
First recorded: 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'labor' and 'trabajo' the same?
Not exactly. 'Trabajo' is the generic word for job or work. 'Labor' refers to the specific task, the effort put in, or specialized work like needlework or farming.
Why is it 'la labor' if it ends in 'r'?
Spanish has a few exceptions where words ending in consonants that are usually masculine are actually feminine. 'Labor' is one of these important exceptions to memorize!
Can 'labor' mean giving birth?
While English uses 'labor' for childbirth, Spanish usually uses 'parto'. However, you might hear 'trabajo de parto' for 'labor', but rarely just 'labor' on its own in that context.