trabaja
“trabaja” means “he works / she works / it works” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
he works / she works / it works, you work
Also: it functions
📝 In Action
Mi hermana trabaja en un hospital.
A1My sister works in a hospital.
El motor trabaja muy bien con esta gasolina.
A2The engine works (functions) very well with this gasoline.
¿Usted trabaja aquí, señor?
A1Do you work here, sir?
work!
📝 In Action
¡No te quedes ahí parado, trabaja!
A2Don't just stand there, work!
Hijo, trabaja en tus deberes antes de jugar.
A1Son, work on your homework before playing.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: trabaja
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'trabaja' as a command?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'tripāliāre', which meant 'to torture'. This was because the original 'tripalium' was a three-staked instrument of torture. Over time, the meaning softened from 'to suffer' to 'to make an effort' and finally to the modern meaning of 'to work'.
First recorded: Around the 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'trabaja' and 'trabajo'?
'Trabajo' (with an 'o') means 'I work' or it can be a noun meaning 'work/job'. 'Trabaja' (with an 'a') means 'he/she/it works' or 'you (formal) work'. It can also be a command: 'Work!'
How do I know if 'trabaja' means 'he works' or is a command?
Context is key! If someone is talking about another person, like 'Juan trabaja mucho', it's a description. If they are talking directly to someone and telling them what to do, often with an urgent tone or exclamation marks like '¡Trabaja!', it's a command.