How to Say "time off" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “time off” is “vacaciones” — A1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
¿Cuándo empiezan tus vacaciones de verano?
When does your summer vacation start?
Estamos de vacaciones en la playa.
We are on holiday/vacation at the beach.
Necesito urgentemente tomarme unas largas vacaciones.
I urgently need to take a long vacation.
Always Plural
In Spanish, 'vacaciones' is always used in the plural form, even if you are referring to a single trip or period of time off. You must use plural articles (las) and plural modifiers.
The Expression 'De vacaciones'
To say someone is 'on vacation,' use the preposition 'de' (Estamos de vacaciones, not en vacaciones).
Using the Singular
Mistake: “Me tomé una vacación.”
Correction: Me tomé unas vacaciones. (It is always treated as plural in Spanish.)
Incorrect Article
Mistake: “El vacaciones es mañana.”
Correction: Las vacaciones son mañana. ('Vacaciones' is feminine and plural, so use 'las' and the plural verb form 'son'.)
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