How to Say "informal" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “informal” is “informal” — use 'informal' when referring to a relaxed atmosphere, a casual meeting, or a non-official setting, such as 'ropa informal' (casual clothes) for work.
informal
een-for-MAHLinfoɾˈmal
Examples
Hoy puedo ir al trabajo con ropa informal.
Today I can go to work in casual clothes.
Tuvimos una cena informal con los vecinos.
We had an informal dinner with the neighbors.
Me gusta el ambiente informal de esta cafetería.
I like the relaxed atmosphere of this coffee shop.
Mucha gente trabaja en el sector informal.
Many people work in the informal sector (unregulated).
One Form for All
This word stays the same regardless of whether the person or thing you are describing is masculine or feminine. You don't need to change the ending to 'a'.
Word Order
In Spanish, you usually place this word after the thing it describes, like 'ropa informal' (clothes casual) instead of 'informal clothes'.
Abstract Nouns
When this word describes abstract things like 'economy' or 'sector', it refers to things that happen outside of official rules.
Adding an 'a'
Mistake: “La cena es informala.”
Correction: La cena es informal. This word always ends in 'l', no matter the gender of the noun.
casual
ka-SWALkaˈswal
Examples
Me gusta vestir ropa casual los fines de semana.
I like to wear casual clothes on the weekends.
Es una fiesta casual, no necesitas corbata.
It's a casual party; you don't need a tie.
El restaurante tiene un ambiente muy casual.
The restaurant has a very casual atmosphere.
Describing style
When talking about clothes, 'casual' and 'informal' are often used as the same thing in Spanish.
Don't overthink it
Mistake: “Thinking 'casual' in Spanish only means 'accidental'.”
Correction: While 'casual' used to mainly mean 'by chance', modern Spanish uses it exactly like English for clothing and vibes.
relajado
ray-lah-HAH-dohre.la.'xa.ðo
Examples
Nuestra oficina tiene un ambiente muy relajado.
Our office has a very laid-back atmosphere.
Él tiene un estilo de vida muy relajado en el campo.
He has a very easy-going lifestyle in the countryside.
Las leyes sobre el estacionamiento son muy relajadas aquí.
Parking laws are very lax here.
Use with 'Ser'
When describing a person's personality or the general vibe of a place (permanent traits), use the verb 'ser'.
Mismatched meaning
Mistake: “El examen fue muy relajado.”
Correction: While understandable, it is better to say 'El examen fue fácil' or 'sencillo'. Use 'relajado' for the atmosphere of the room during the exam, not the difficulty of the task itself.
familiar
fah-mee-lee-AHRfa.miˈljar
Examples
Esa cara me resulta familiar, ¿la conozco de algún sitio?
That face looks familiar to me, do I know her from somewhere?
Ella siempre tiene un trato muy familiar con sus empleados.
She always has a very personal (or informal/friendly) relationship with her employees.
El tema del cambio climático es muy familiar para los jóvenes.
The topic of climate change is very well-known to young people.
Feeling Familiar
To say something feels familiar, Spanish often uses the verb resultar: 'Esto me resulta familiar' (This turns out/seems familiar to me).
informal
Examples
Mucha gente trabaja en el sector informal.
Many people work in the informal sector (unregulated).
Distinguishing 'Informal' vs. 'Familiar'
Related Translations
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