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 administrative or professional work takes place, like a typical business office.

oficina🔊A1

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

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despacho🔊A2

Choose 'despacho' when referring to a private workroom, often for a professional like a lawyer, doctor, or manager.

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agencia🔊A1

Use 'agencia' for a branch of a larger company, such as a travel agency, advertising agency, or employment agency.

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escritorio🔊B1

Consider 'escritorio' to mean a place of work, particularly a desk or the room where a director or manager works.

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cargo🔊B1

Use 'cargo' to refer to a position of authority or a specific role, like 'the office of president' or 'the office of mayor'.

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gabinete🔊B1

Employ 'gabinete' for a private professional room, especially for medical practitioners like dentists or doctors.

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ministerio🔊B1

Use 'ministerio' when referring to a government department or, less commonly, a period of service in a high political office.

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administraciónB2

Use 'administración' to refer to the administrative body or department of an organization, or a specific government office like the tax office.

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dependencia🔊B2

Choose 'dependencia' for a government building, office, or a subordinate part of a larger structure, sometimes even rooms in a house.

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English → Spanish

oficina

o-fee-SEE-naho.fiˈsi.na

nounA1general
Use 'oficina' for a general room or building where administrative or professional work takes place, like a typical business office.
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 hermano trabaja en una oficina grande en el centro.

My brother works in a big office downtown.

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).

despacho

des-PAH-chohdesˈpatʃo

nounA2professional
Choose 'despacho' when referring to a private workroom, often for a professional like a lawyer, doctor, or manager.
A cozy, simple wooden desk and chair setup inside a small, brightly lit private room, suitable for working.

Examples

El director me recibió en su despacho.

The director received me in his 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).

agencia

a-HEN-syaaˈxen.sja

nounA1business
Use 'agencia' for a branch of a larger company, such as a travel agency, advertising agency, or employment agency.
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

Reservamos el viaje en la agencia de turismo.

We booked the trip at the tourism 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'.)

escritorio

es-kree-TOH-ryoes.kɾiˈto.ɾjo

nounB1general
Consider 'escritorio' to mean a place of work, particularly a desk or the room where a director or manager works.
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.

cargo

KAR-goˈkaɾɣo

nounB1formal
Use 'cargo' to refer to a position of authority or a specific role, like 'the office of president' or 'the office of mayor'.
A professional woman sitting confidently behind a large, clean wooden desk in a bright office, symbolizing a leadership position.

Examples

El nuevo presidente asumió el cargo.

The new president took office.

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.

gabinete

gah-bee-neh-tehɡaβiˈnete

nounB1professional
Employ 'gabinete' for a private professional room, especially for medical practitioners like dentists or doctors.
A clean, professional dentist's office with a reclining chair and medical equipment.

Examples

El cirujano me atendió en su gabinete.

The surgeon saw 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.

ministerio

mee-nees-TEH-ryohminisˈteɾjo

nounB1government/formal
Use 'ministerio' when referring to a government department or, less commonly, a period of service in a high political office.
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 anunció nuevas becas.

The ministry of education announced new scholarships.

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.

administración

nounB2general/government
Use 'administración' to refer to the administrative body or department of an organization, or a specific government office like the tax office.

Examples

Debes ir a la administración para pagar tus impuestos.

You must go to the administration to pay your taxes.

dependencia

deh-pehn-DEN-syahdepenˈdenθja

nounB2government/formal
Choose 'dependencia' for a government building, office, or a subordinate part of a larger structure, sometimes even rooms in a house.
A professional service counter in a large building lobby where a person is waiting to help visitors.

Examples

La dependencia gubernamental está cerrada los domingos.

The government office is closed on Sundays.

Esta casa tiene varias dependencias para el servicio.

This house has several rooms/outbuildings for the staff.

Tiene que ir a una dependencia municipal para renovar el carnet.

You have to go to a municipal office to renew your ID card.

Limpiaron todas las dependencias del palacio.

They cleaned all the rooms and sections of the palace.

Often plural

When referring to parts of a building or house, we almost always use the plural form: 'las dependencias'.

Don't confuse with 'apartamento'

Mistake: “Vivo en una dependencia pequeña.”

Correction: Vivo en un apartamento pequeño.

General Office vs. Specific Room

The most common confusion is between 'oficina' (general workplace) and 'despacho' (private workroom). While 'oficina' can sometimes refer to a private office, 'despacho' is more specific for a personal, often executive or professional, workspace.

Related Translations

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