Inklingo

How to Say "colleagues" in Spanish

English → Spanish

colegas

koh-LEH-gahs/koˈle.ɣas/

nounA2professional
Use 'colegas' when referring to your professional peers, people you work with in a similar role or at the same company.
A simple illustration showing two professional peers, one pointing at a document they are both holding, symbolizing collaboration.

Examples

Mis colegas de trabajo organizaron una fiesta sorpresa.

My colleagues from work organized a surprise party.

Ella es una de mis colegas más respetadas en la universidad.

She is one of my most respected colleagues at the university.

¿Vas a invitar a todos tus colegas a la conferencia?

Are you going to invite all your associates to the conference?

Gender Flexibility

The word 'colega' (and its plural 'colegas') does not change its ending to indicate gender. Instead, the article tells you who is being discussed: 'el colega' (male) or 'la colega' (female).

Confusing 'Colega' and 'Amigo'

Mistake: “Using 'colega' when you mean a close personal friend.”

Correction: 'Colega' implies a professional or academic relationship. Use 'amigos' (friends) or 'conocidos' (acquaintances) for personal relationships.

compañeros

kohm-pah-NYEH-rohs/kompaˈɲeɾos/

nounA1general/work
Use 'compañeros' to refer to people you share an environment with, such as classmates or teammates, and sometimes also people you work with, especially in a more general or informal sense.
A simple colorful illustration showing two smiling children, a boy and a girl, wearing backpacks and walking side-by-side outside a school building.

Examples

¿Conoces a mis compañeros de clase? Son muy simpáticos.

Do you know my classmates? They are very friendly.

Mis compañeros de trabajo y yo vamos a almorzar juntos hoy.

My colleagues and I are going to have lunch together today.

Fueron excelentes compañeros durante la misión.

They were excellent teammates during the mission.

Gender Use for Groups

Even if the group is mixed (contains women and men), Spanish uses the masculine plural form 'compañeros' to refer to everyone.

Confusing Singular/Plural

Mistake: “Using 'compañero' (singular) when talking about more than one person.”

Correction: Make sure you use 'compañeros' (plural) when describing multiple people: 'Todos mis compañeros...'

Colegas vs. Compañeros

The most common mistake is using 'compañeros' when you mean specific professional peers. While 'compañeros' can sometimes refer to workmates, 'colegas' is the more precise term for professional equals. Reserve 'compañeros' for classmates, teammates, or a more general sense of people you share a space with.

Related Translations

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