Inklingo

How to Say "office" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “office” is “oficina” — use 'oficina' for a general room or building where professional or administrative work takes place, like a typical workplace..

oficina🔊A1

Use 'oficina' for a general room or building where professional or administrative work takes place, like a typical workplace.

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agencia🔊A1

Choose 'agencia' when referring to a branch of a larger company, especially in sectors like travel, advertising, or real estate.

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despacho🔊A2

Use 'despacho' for a private workroom, often for a professional like a lawyer, doctor, or executive.

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escritorio🔊B1

Employ 'escritorio' to refer to a specific place of work, often a desk and the immediate area around it, or the office of a high-ranking official.

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gabinete🔊B1

Use 'gabinete' for a specialized professional room, such as a dentist's office or a lawyer's consultation room.

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administraciónB2

Use 'administración' when referring to the administrative body or department of an organization, or a specific public office like the tax office.

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cargo🔊B1

Use 'cargo' to denote a position of authority or responsibility, essentially the 'office' of a president, director, or other official.

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ministerio🔊B1

Use 'ministerio' specifically for a government department headed by a minister, or a period of service in such a role.

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English → Spanish

oficina

/o-fee-SEE-nah//o.fiˈsi.na/

nounA1general
Use 'oficina' for a general room or building where professional or administrative work takes place, like a typical workplace.
A brightly lit, organized office desk featuring a computer monitor, a colorful pen holder, and a small stack of papers, symbolizing a workspace.

Examples

Mi oficina está en el centro de la ciudad.

My office is in the city center.

Mi papá trabaja en una oficina.

My dad works in an office.

La oficina de correos abre a las nueve.

The post office opens at nine.

Tengo una reunión en la oficina central a las tres.

I have a meeting at the main office at three.

Always Feminine: 'La Oficina'

'Oficina' is a feminine word, which means it always uses 'la' (the) or 'una' (a/an). For example, you'd say 'la oficina es grande' (the office is big).

'Oficina' vs. 'Despacho'

Mistake: “Using 'oficina' when talking about a small, private office inside a home or building.”

Correction: Use 'oficina' for a general office space or company office. Use 'despacho' for a private office, a study at home, or a professional's office (like a lawyer or architect).

agencia

/a-HEN-sya//aˈxen.sja/

nounA1general
Choose 'agencia' when referring to a branch of a larger company, especially in sectors like travel, advertising, or real estate.
A simple, clean illustration of a small, rectangular office building with large glass windows and a single entrance door, suggesting a business office or organization.

Examples

Necesito ir a la agencia de alquiler de coches.

I need to go to the car rental agency.

Fuimos a la agencia de viajes para planear las vacaciones.

We went to the travel agency to plan the vacation.

La agencia de noticias reportó el evento en directo.

The news agency reported the event live.

Mi hermana trabaja en una agencia de publicidad muy grande.

My sister works at a very large advertising agency.

Feminine Noun Rule

Even though 'agencia' ends in -a, it follows the common pattern for nouns ending in -cia or -gia and is always feminine. Use 'la' or 'una' before it.

Confusing Gender

Mistake: “El agencia es buena.”

Correction: La agencia es buena. (Always use the feminine article 'la'.)

despacho

des-PAH-choh/desˈpatʃo/

nounA2general
Use 'despacho' for a private workroom, often for a professional like a lawyer, doctor, or executive.
A cozy, simple wooden desk and chair setup inside a small, brightly lit private room, suitable for working.

Examples

El director trabaja en su despacho privado.

The director works in his private office.

El abogado tiene su despacho en el tercer piso.

The lawyer has his office on the third floor.

Necesito ir a mi despacho para terminar este informe.

I need to go to my study to finish this report.

Gender Note

Remember that 'despacho' is masculine (el despacho), even though many other words ending in '-o' are masculine.

Office vs. Firm

Mistake: “Using 'despacho' for a large, open-plan corporate office.”

Correction: Use 'oficina' for large corporate spaces. 'Despacho' usually implies a smaller, private room or a specific type of professional firm (like a law firm).

escritorio

es-kree-TOH-ryo/es.kɾiˈto.ɾjo/

nounB1general
Employ 'escritorio' to refer to a specific place of work, often a desk and the immediate area around it, or the office of a high-ranking official.
A small, quiet room set up as a personal office, featuring a desk, a chair, and a bookshelf.

Examples

El jefe tiene su escritorio en el último piso.

The boss has his office on the top floor.

El director tiene su escritorio en el piso superior.

The director has his office on the top floor.

Debes dirigirte al escritorio de atención al cliente.

You should go to the customer service office (or bureau).

Formal Use

This meaning is often used in official or administrative language when referring to a specific department or location.

gabinete

/gah-bee-neh-teh//ɡaβiˈnete/

nounB1professional
Use 'gabinete' for a specialized professional room, such as a dentist's office or a lawyer's consultation room.
A clean, professional dentist's office with a reclining chair and medical equipment.

Examples

El médico me citó en su gabinete.

The doctor scheduled me in his office.

El dentista me espera en su gabinete.

The dentist is waiting for me in his office.

Tiene un gabinete de prensa muy eficiente.

He has a very efficient press office.

Professional Space

Use 'gabinete' instead of 'oficina' when talking about a specialized room where a professional (like a doctor or researcher) works.

administración

nounB2formal
Use 'administración' when referring to the administrative body or department of an organization, or a specific public office like the tax office.

Examples

La administración pública está muy burocratizada.

The public administration is very bureaucratic.

cargo

/KAR-go//ˈkaɾɣo/

nounB1formal
Use 'cargo' to denote a position of authority or responsibility, essentially the 'office' of a president, director, or other official.
A professional woman sitting confidently behind a large, clean wooden desk in a bright office, symbolizing a leadership position.

Examples

Asumió el cargo de embajador con gran responsabilidad.

He took on the office of ambassador with great responsibility.

Ella aceptó el cargo de directora general.

She accepted the position of general director.

Es un cargo con mucha responsabilidad.

It's a position with a lot of responsibility.

Dimitió de su cargo político el mes pasado.

He resigned from his political office last month.

ministerio

/mee-nees-TEH-ryoh//minisˈteɾjo/

nounB1formal
Use 'ministerio' specifically for a government department headed by a minister, or a period of service in such a role.
A formal, official-looking document or scroll tied with a ribbon, resting on a pedestal, symbolizing an official appointment or duty.

Examples

El ministerio de educación lanzó un nuevo programa.

The ministry of education launched a new program.

El político concluyó su ministerio después de cinco años.

The politician concluded his term of office after five years.

Durante su ministerio, se lograron grandes avances sociales.

During his tenure/time in office, great social advances were achieved.

Formal Usage

This meaning is more common in formal writing, political analysis, or historical accounts, focusing on the role itself rather than the physical building.

Oficina vs. Despacho

The most common confusion is between 'oficina' and 'despacho'. Remember that 'oficina' is a general term for a workplace, while 'despacho' specifically refers to a private room for work, often for a professional.

Related Translations

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