How to Say "government employee" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “government employee” is “funcionario” — B1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
Mi tío es funcionario y trabaja en el ayuntamiento.
My uncle is a civil servant and works at the city hall.
Para ser funcionario en España, hay que aprobar un examen difícil llamado oposición.
To become a government employee in Spain, you have to pass a difficult exam called an 'oposición'.
El funcionario de aduanas revisó mis documentos.
The customs official checked my documents.
Gender patterns
Even though this entry is for the masculine 'funcionario', when referring to a woman, the word changes its ending to 'a' (funcionaria). The plural is 'funcionarios' for a mixed group or all men.
The 'Personal A'
If you are 'calling' or 'looking for' a specific official, remember to put 'a' before the word, like 'Busco al funcionario' (I am looking for the official).
False Friend Alert
Mistake: “Using 'functionary' in English as a direct translation.”
Correction: While 'functionary' exists in English, it often sounds negative or robotic. In Spanish, 'funcionario' is the standard, neutral word for anyone with a stable government job.
Related Translations
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