trabajar
/tra-ba-HAR/
to work
Trabajar means 'to work' in the context of having a job or performing a task.
trabajar(Verb)
to work
?having a job or performing a task
to labor
?performing physical effort
📝 In Action
Mi hermana trabaja en un hospital.
A1My sister works in a hospital.
Necesito trabajar mañana por la mañana.
A1I need to work tomorrow morning.
¿En qué te gustaría trabajar en el futuro?
A2What would you like to work as in the future?
💡 Grammar Points
Talking About Where You Work
To say where you work or what field you're in, use trabajar en. For example, 'Trabajo en un banco' (I work in a bank) or 'Trabajo en marketing' (I work in marketing).
Talking About Who You Work For
To say who your employer is, use trabajar para. For instance, 'Trabajo para una gran empresa' (I work for a big company).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Verb vs. Noun
Mistake: "Me gusta mi trabajar."
Correction: Me gusta mi trabajo. (I like my job). Remember, 'trabajar' is the action (to work), and 'trabajo' is the thing (the job).
⭐ Usage Tips
Asking 'What do you do?'
A very natural way to ask someone about their profession is '¿En qué trabajas?'. It's like saying 'What do you work in?'.
When referring to machines or devices, trabajar means 'to function' or 'to run'.
trabajar(Verb)
to work
?for a machine, device, or system
to function
?operating correctly
,to run
?for a motor or engine
📝 In Action
El aire acondicionado no trabaja.
A2The air conditioning doesn't work.
¿Sabes por qué la impresora no trabaja?
B1Do you know why the printer isn't working?
Este plan no va a trabajar.
B1This plan isn't going to work.
⭐ Usage Tips
'Trabajar' vs. 'Funcionar'
For machines and devices, you can often use 'trabajar' and 'funcionar' interchangeably. 'Funcionar' can sometimes sound slightly more technical, while 'trabajar' is very common in everyday speech. Both are correct!
Trabajar can also mean 'to work on' or 'to shape' a material, such as leather or wood.
trabajar(Verb)
to work on
?shaping or processing a material
to develop
?an idea or skill
,to till
?the land
📝 In Action
El artesano trabaja el cuero con mucha habilidad.
B1The artisan works the leather with great skill.
Tenemos que trabajar más la presentación antes de la reunión.
B2We have to work on the presentation more before the meeting.
Los agricultores trabajan la tierra para prepararla para la siembra.
B2The farmers work the land to prepare it for planting.
💡 Grammar Points
A Verb that Takes an Object
In this sense, 'trabajar' usually needs something that receives the action. You don't just 'work', you 'work something' (the wood, the idea, the land).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: trabajar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence is correct?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'trabajar' and 'funcionar'?
For people, you must use 'trabajar'. For machines or systems, you can often use either! 'Funcionar' is a bit more specific and technical, like 'to function', while 'trabajar' is more general and common in everyday speech. You can't go wrong saying 'Mi coche no trabaja'.
How do I say 'I am working' right now?
You use a special form called the present progressive. Say 'Estoy trabajando'. It's formed with the verb 'estar' (estoy) + the '-ando' form of the verb (trabajando).