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How to Say "laborer" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “laborer” is “trabajador” — use this general term for any male worker, especially one performing manual or physical labor, when no more specific term is needed.

English → Spanish

trabajador

trah-bah-hah-DORtɾaβaxaˈðoɾ

nounA1general
Use this general term for any male worker, especially one performing manual or physical labor, when no more specific term is needed.
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).

trabajadora

tra-ba-ha-DOR-ahtɾaβaxaˈðoɾa

nounA2general
Use this general term for any female worker, especially one performing manual or physical labor, when no more specific term is needed.
A woman wearing a yellow hard hat and a safety vest, holding a blueprint.

Examples

La trabajadora pidió un aumento de sueldo.

The worker asked for a salary increase.

Ella es una trabajadora social muy respetada.

She is a very respected social worker.

The Female Worker

This noun is the specific version for a female worker. In Spanish, many jobs and roles change their ending to show the person's gender.

obrero

oh-BREH-rohoˈβɾeɾo

nounA2general
This term specifically refers to a male laborer, often in blue-collar jobs like construction, factories, or manual trades.
A worker in blue overalls carrying a toolbox and a wrench.

Examples

El obrero lleva un casco de seguridad.

The worker is wearing a safety helmet.

Los obreros de la fábrica piden mejores salarios.

The factory workers are asking for better wages.

Se necesita un obrero especializado para este trabajo.

A skilled laborer is needed for this job.

Specific Kind of Work

In Spanish, while 'trabajador' can be anyone with a job (like a lawyer or a teacher), 'obrero' is specifically for people who work with their hands, like in factories or construction sites.

Making it Feminine

Even though this entry is for the masculine 'obrero,' you simply change the 'o' to an 'a' (obrera) when talking about a female worker.

Don't use for office staff

Mistake: “Calling an accountant an 'obrero'.”

Correction: Use 'empleado' or 'trabajador'. 'Obrero' implies manual labor.

peón

nounB2general
Use this term for a male laborer who performs unskilled manual tasks, often in construction or agriculture, emphasizing the lack of specialized skills.

Examples

El peón de albañil cargaba los ladrillos con mucho esfuerzo.

The construction laborer was carrying the bricks with great effort.

General vs. Specific Laborer Terms

Learners often confuse 'trabajador/trabajadora' with more specific terms like 'obrero' or 'peón'. While 'trabajador/trabajadora' is a safe general choice for 'worker', use 'obrero' for skilled manual jobs and 'peón' for unskilled manual tasks to be more precise.

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