Inklingo

How to Say "employee" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “employee” is “empleado” — use 'empleado' for any person who works for a company or individual and receives wages, as it's the most common and general term..

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empleado

/em-pleh-AH-doh//em.pleˈa.ðo/

nounA1general
Use 'empleado' for any person who works for a company or individual and receives wages, as it's the most common and general term.
A person with a friendly expression sitting at a simple wooden desk, actively typing on a laptop, representing a worker earning wages.

Examples

El nuevo empleado de la tienda es muy rápido.

The new employee at the store is very fast.

Todos los empleados recibieron un bono este mes.

All the employees received a bonus this month.

Mi padre es un empleado público en el ayuntamiento.

My father is a public employee at the city hall.

Gender Changes

To talk about a female worker, change the ending to 'a': 'la empleada'. To make it plural, add 's': 'los empleados' (mixed group or all male) or 'las empleadas' (all female).

Confusing 'empleado' and 'empleo'

Mistake: “Using 'Busco un empleado' when you mean 'Busco un empleo'.”

Correction: 'Empleo' means the job/position itself, while 'empleado' is the person who holds the job.

trabajador

trah-bah-hah-DOR/tɾaβaxaˈðoɾ/

nounA1general
Choose 'trabajador' when you want to emphasize the person's role as a worker or laborer, often in a context of a job or shift.
A smiling construction worker wearing a yellow hard hat and blue overalls, holding a hammer and a piece of wood.

Examples

Necesitamos un trabajador para el turno de la noche.

We need a worker for the night shift.

La empresa tiene cien trabajadores en total.

The company has one hundred employees in total.

Forming the Feminine

To talk about a female worker, change the ending to 'a': 'la trabajadora'.

Confusing Noun and Verb

Mistake: “Using 'trabajador' when you mean the action of working ('trabajar').”

Correction: Use 'trabajador' only for the person; use 'trabajar' for the action. Example: 'Me gusta trabajar' (I like to work).

contratado

/kohn-trah-TAH-doh//kontɾaˈtaðo/

nounB2formal
Use 'contratado' specifically for someone who has been formally hired or contracted, often implying a more official employment status.
A colorful storybook illustration of a person sitting at a clean desk, working diligently with a simple tool, symbolizing an employee at work.

Examples

Cada nuevo contratado debe firmar un acuerdo de confidencialidad.

Every new employee must sign a confidentiality agreement.

Los contratados temporales no reciben los mismos beneficios que los fijos.

Temporary contractors do not receive the same benefits as permanent ones.

Adjective acting as Noun

This is a common pattern in Spanish: taking an adjective (like 'hired') and using it as a noun (like 'the hired one' or 'the employee'). You just need to add an article ('el', 'la', 'un', 'una') in front.

servidor

/ser-vee-DOR//ser.βiˈðoɾ/

nounA2service industry
Use 'servidor' when referring to someone who serves customers or clients in a service industry, like a waiter or barista.
A smiling waiter wearing a uniform and apron, balancing a tray carrying a covered dish in a restaurant setting.

Examples

El servidor de la cafetería es muy amable.

The server at the cafeteria is very kind.

¿Podría llamar a un servidor para pedir la cuenta?

Could I call an attendant to ask for the bill?

Gender Note

Remember that 'servidor' is the masculine form. If you are referring to a woman, the word changes to 'servidora'.

General vs. Specific Roles

The most common mistake is using a specific term like 'contratado' or 'servidor' when the general term 'empleado' would suffice. Remember that 'empleado' is the default and safest choice unless you specifically want to highlight the contracted nature or service role.

Related Translations

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