oficina
“oficina” means “office” in Spanish (a room or building for professional or administrative work).
office
Also: bureau, post office
📝 In Action
Mi papá trabaja en una oficina.
A1My dad works in an office.
La oficina de correos abre a las nueve.
A2The post office opens at nine.
Tengo una reunión en la oficina central a las tres.
B1I have a meeting at the main office at three.
La empresa decidió modernizar todas sus oficinas para mejorar el ambiente laboral.
B2The company decided to modernize all its offices to improve the work environment.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: oficina
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
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👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
It comes directly from the Latin word 'officīna', which meant 'workshop' or 'place of work'. This original meaning of a place where things are made or done evolved into the modern sense of a place for administrative or commercial work.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'oficina' and 'despacho'?
Think of 'oficina' as the general word for 'office'—it can be a large open space or a whole building. 'Despacho' is more specific, usually referring to a private, enclosed office for one or a few people, like a manager's office, a professor's office, or a study in a house.
Can 'oficina' be masculine?
No, 'oficina' is always a feminine word. You will always see it with feminine words like 'la', 'una', 'esta' (this), or 'aquella' (that).