How to Say "they work" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “they work” is “trabajan” — use 'trabajan' when referring to a group of people or sometimes even inanimate objects performing a task or function..
trabajan
/trah-BAH-hahn//tɾaˈβaxan/
Examples
Mis vecinos trabajan en la fábrica de coches.
My neighbors work at the car factory.
¿Ustedes trabajan hasta tarde hoy?
Do you all (formal) work until late today?
Las baterías nuevas trabajan mucho mejor que las viejas.
The new batteries function much better than the old ones.
Who is 'trabajan'?
This form always refers to a group: 'ellos' (they, masculine/mixed), 'ellas' (they, feminine), or 'ustedes' (you all/y'all, formal).
Action vs. Habit
The simple present 'trabajan' can mean they work (habitually) or they are working (right now). If you need to emphasize the 'right now' action, use 'están trabajando'.
Confusing the 'You' forms
Mistake: “Using 'trabajan' when talking to one person formally (usted).”
Correction: Use 'trabaja' for one formal person (Usted trabaja). 'Trabajan' is only for a group (Ustedes).
funcionan
foo-nyo-nan/funˈθjo.nan/
Examples
¿Los frenos del coche funcionan bien?
Do the car brakes work well?
Dicen que los nuevos sistemas de seguridad funcionan mucho mejor.
They say the new security systems function much better.
Aunque la batería está baja, las luces todavía funcionan.
Even though the battery is low, the lights still work.
Who is 'funcionan'?
This form is used when the subject is plural: 'ellos' (they, masculine/mixed group), 'ellas' (they, feminine group), or 'ustedes' (you all, formal).
Regular -AR Verb
Since 'funcionar' is a regular '-ar' verb, it follows the most common conjugation pattern in Spanish, making it easy to predict its forms in other tenses.
Working vs. Functioning
Mistake: “Misusing 'trabajan' (they work) for objects.”
Correction: 'Trabajar' is usually for people's jobs. For machines, plans, or systems, use 'funcionan': 'Los robots funcionan' (The robots work), not 'trabajan'.
andan
AHN-dahn/ˈan.dan/
Examples
Los motores andan mejor después del mantenimiento.
The engines work better after maintenance.
Dicen que sus negocios andan muy bien este trimestre.
They say their businesses are running very well this quarter.
Las computadoras andan lentas hoy; hay un problema en la red.
The computers are running slow today; there's a network problem.
Talking About Systems
When talking about how things (like cars, organizations, or clocks) are performing, use 'andar' instead of 'caminar' (which is only for people/animals).
People vs. Machines
Related Translations
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