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trabajadores

trah-bah-hah-DOH-rehstɾaβaxaˈðoɾes

“trabajadores” means “workers” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

workers, employees

Also: laborers
NounmA1
A diverse group of three individuals depicted in different professional roles: a construction worker with a hard hat, a chef wearing an apron, and an office worker sitting at a desk, all working diligently together.

📝 In Action

Los trabajadores de la fábrica están en huelga.

A2

The factory workers are on strike.

Necesitamos más trabajadores para este proyecto.

A1

We need more employees for this project.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • jefes (bosses)
  • desempleados (unemployed people)

Common Collocations

  • derechos de los trabajadores – workers' rights
  • sindicato de trabajadores – workers' union

hardworking, industrious

Also: diligent
A determined child with sweat dripping, vigorously pulling a rope attached to a heavy sled piled high with colorful objects, showing extreme effort.

📝 In Action

Son estudiantes muy trabajadores y siempre entregan a tiempo.

A2

They are very hardworking students and always hand things in on time.

Las hormigas son insectos extremadamente trabajadores.

B1

Ants are extremely industrious insects.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • aplicados (diligent)
  • diligentes (diligent)

Antonyms

  • perezosos (lazy)
  • holgazanes (loafers)

Common Collocations

  • pueblo trabajador – hardworking people/community

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "trabajadores" in Spanish:

diligent→employees→hardworking→industrious→laborers→workers→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: trabajadores

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'trabajadores' as an ADJECTIVE?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
colaboradoresmotores
📚 Etymology▼

The root comes from the Old Spanish verb 'trabajar', which itself evolved from the Vulgar Latin word *tripaliare*. This word originally meant 'to torment' or 'to put to great effort', referencing the *tripalium*, an ancient Roman instrument of restraint or torture. Over time, the meaning softened from 'torture' to 'toil' or 'labor', and finally just 'work'.

First recorded: Around the 13th century (in related forms)

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: trabalhadoresCatalan: treballadors

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'trabajadores' and 'empleados'?

'Trabajadores' is a broader term, focusing on the act of working (laborers, staff, etc.). 'Empleados' specifically means 'employees'—people formally hired by a company. They are often interchangeable, but 'trabajadores' can sound slightly more focused on the working class or manual labor context.

How do I make 'trabajadores' feminine?

To refer to a group of only female workers or women who are hardworking, you change the ending to '-as': 'trabajadoras'.