oficial
“oficial” means “official” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
official
Also: formal, certified
📝 In Action
El comunicado oficial será publicado mañana.
A2The official announcement will be published tomorrow.
Necesitas una traducción oficial del documento.
B1You need an official translation of the document.
La versión oficial de los hechos es diferente.
B1The official version of the events is different.
officer
Also: official, clerk, skilled worker
📝 In Action
Un oficial de policía me pidió la documentación.
B1A police officer asked me for my documents.
El presidente se reunió con altos oficiales del ejército.
B2The president met with high-ranking army officers.
Un oficial del gobierno visitó nuestra ciudad.
B2A government official visited our city.
Mi hermano es oficial de primera en una carpintería.
C1My brother is a first-grade skilled worker at a carpentry shop.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "oficial" in Spanish:
certified→clerk→formal→officer→official→skilled worker→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: oficial
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'oficial' to describe a person?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'officialis', which meant 'related to duty or office'. This itself comes from 'officium', meaning 'a service, duty, or office'. You can see the connection in all its meanings today, from an official duty to a person holding an office.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'oficial' and 'funcionario'?
Good question! They can sometimes overlap. 'Funcionario' almost always refers to a civil servant or someone who works for the government ('un funcionario público'). 'Oficial' is broader. It can be a government official, but it can also be a police officer, a military officer, or even a skilled worker in a private company. All 'funcionarios' are a type of 'oficial', but not all 'oficiales' are 'funcionarios'.
Is 'oficial' always a serious word?
Mostly, yes. It relates to authority, rules, and formal positions. You wouldn't use it in a casual, slangy way. For example, you might talk about the 'versión oficial' of a story (what the authorities say happened), and your friend might tell you the 'chisme' (gossip), which is the unofficial version!