Inklingo

How to Say "employees" in Spanish

English → Spanish

empleados

em-ple-AH-dos/em.pleˈa.ðos/

nounA1general
Use 'empleados' when referring to people who are formally hired and work for a company or organization, emphasizing their employment status.
Three diverse people dressed professionally, sitting at a desk and happily looking at a shared document, symbolizing employees working together.

Examples

La empresa tiene cien empleados nuevos este año.

The company has one hundred new employees this year.

Los empleados de esta tienda son muy amables.

The staff (employees) at this store are very kind.

Necesitamos capacitar a todos los empleados antes de la apertura.

We need to train all the personnel before the opening.

Gender and Number

Since this word ends in '-os', it is plural (more than one) and masculine. If you are referring only to female staff, you must use 'empleadas'.

Confusing 'empleados' and 'empleo'

Mistake: “Mi jefe tiene muchos empleos. (My boss has many jobs.)”

Correction: Mi jefe tiene muchos empleados. ('Empleo' means 'job' or 'employment'; 'empleado' is the person who holds the job.)

trabajadores

trah-bah-hah-DOH-rehs/tɾaβaxaˈðoɾes/

nounA1general
Use 'trabajadores' when emphasizing the act of working or the collective group of people who perform labor, especially in a more general or unionized context.
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.

Examples

Los trabajadores de la fábrica están en huelga.

The factory workers are on strike.

Necesitamos más trabajadores para este proyecto.

We need more employees for this project.

Masculine Plural Noun

This form refers to multiple male workers, or a mixed group of male and female workers. If the group were all female, you would use 'trabajadoras'.

Mixing up singular and plural

Mistake: “Muchos trabajador están aquí. (Incorrect agreement)”

Correction: Muchos trabajadores están aquí. (Remember to add the -es to the noun and use the plural verb form.)

Choosing Between 'Empleados' and 'Trabajadores'

Learners often use 'empleados' and 'trabajadores' interchangeably without realizing the subtle difference. While both refer to people who work, 'empleados' focuses on the employer-employee relationship, whereas 'trabajadores' highlights the act of working or the group's labor.

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