puesto
“puesto” means “job” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
job, position
Also: stall, stand, post
📝 In Action
Tengo un nuevo puesto en la oficina.
B1I have a new job/position at the office.
Compramos frutas frescas en un puesto del mercado.
A2We bought fresh fruit at a stall in the market.
El soldado no puede abandonar su puesto.
B2The soldier cannot leave his post.
on, wearing
Also: placed, set
📝 In Action
Ya tienes el abrigo puesto, ¿nos vamos?
B1You already have your coat on, shall we go?
La mesa ya está puesta para la cena.
B1The table is already set for dinner.
Los libros están puestos en el estante.
A2The books are placed on the shelf.
put, placed, set
📝 In Action
He puesto las llaves sobre la mesa.
A2I have put the keys on the table.
¿Dónde has puesto mi libro?
A2Where have you put my book?
Nunca habíamos puesto un pie en esta ciudad.
B2We had never set foot in this city.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: puesto
Question 1 of 2
In the sentence 'El hombre con la gorra puesta tiene un buen puesto', what does the second 'puesto' mean?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
'Puesto' comes directly from the Latin word 'positus,' which was the past participle of the verb 'pōnere,' meaning 'to put' or 'to place.' You can see how this one Latin root gave us all of 'puesto's' meanings: the action of having 'put' something, something that is 'placed' (like clothes or an item), and a place where someone is 'put' (a job or a market stall).
First recorded: 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between using 'puesto' with 'estar' versus 'haber'?
Great question! It changes the meaning completely. With 'haber' (e.g., 'he puesto'), it's part of the main verb and means someone 'has put' something. With 'estar' (e.g., 'está puesto'), it acts as an adjective, describing the state of something, meaning it 'is placed' or 'is on'.
How do I know if 'puesto' means 'job' or 'market stall'?
It all comes down to context. If people are talking about careers, companies, or work, 'puesto' means job. If they're talking about a street, a fair, or buying local goods, it almost certainly means a market stall or stand.