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How to Say "labored" in Spanish

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trabajado

trah-bah-HAH-doh/tɾaβaˈxaðo/

verbA1formal or literary usage
Use 'trabajado' when referring to the general act of having worked on something, often in a more formal or literary context.
A farmer wearing overalls and a straw hat is sitting down next to a completed, freshly planted garden row, wiping sweat from their brow in satisfaction.

Examples

Hemos trabajado todo el día en este proyecto.

We have worked all day on this project.

¿Alguna vez has trabajado en un hospital?

Have you ever worked in a hospital?

Ella había trabajado como profesora antes de mudarse.

She had worked as a teacher before moving.

Forming Perfect Tenses

To talk about actions completed in the past using 'have worked,' pair 'trabajado' with the verb 'haber' (to have). Example: 'He trabajado' (I have worked).

Always Ends in -o

When used with 'haber' to form tenses, the past participle 'trabajado' never changes its ending. It always stays '-ado', regardless of who did the work.

Confusing 'Haber' and 'Tener'

Mistake: “Using 'Tengo trabajado' instead of 'He trabajado'.”

Correction: In Spanish, use 'haber' (he, has, ha, etc.) to create compound verb tenses like 'I have worked.' Reserve 'tener' for possession (I have a car).

verbA1general usage
Use 'trabajó' to describe someone who has toiled or worked very hard, often implying significant effort or difficulty.

Examples

Mi hermana trabajó hasta tarde anoche.

My sister worked until late last night.

General Work vs. Strenuous Effort

Learners often confuse these because both mean 'worked'. Remember that 'trabajado' is the past participle used in perfect tenses for general work, while 'trabajó' is the preterite of 'trabajar' and often implies a more intensive or difficult effort, like toiling.

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