How to Say "to retire" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to retire” is “jubilar” — use 'jubilarse' when referring to the act of officially ending one's working career, often associated with reaching retirement age or receiving pension benefits.
jubilar
hoo-bee-LAHRxu.βi.ˈlaɾ
Examples
Mi padre se jubiló el año pasado después de 40 años de servicio.
My father retired last year after 40 years of service.
La empresa va a jubilar a diez trabajadores el próximo mes.
The company is going to retire ten workers next month.
Mi padre quiere jubilarse pronto para viajar por el mundo.
My father wants to retire soon to travel the world.
Es difícil jubilar a un profesional con tanta experiencia.
It is difficult to retire a professional with so much experience.
The 'Self' Form
To say 'I am retiring,' you must use the form 'jubilarse.' Without the 'se,' it means you are forcing someone else to retire.
Using 'a' with People
When you use this word to talk about retiring a specific person, remember to use 'a': 'Jubilar a mi jefe.'
Using the wrong word for 'retire'
Mistake: “Saying 'Me voy a retirar' when you mean finish your career.”
Correction: Use 'Me voy a jubilar' for ending your career due to age/years worked. 'Retirarse' is more general or used for military/sports.
retirarse
reh-tee-RAHR-sehre.tiˈɾaɾ.se
Examples
Ella decidió retirarse de la política para pasar más tiempo con su familia.
She decided to retire from politics to spend more time with her family.
Mi abuelo se retiró a los 65 años después de trabajar 40 años en la fábrica.
My grandfather retired at 65 after working 40 years in the factory.
¿Cuándo planeas retirarte? Queremos hacer una gran fiesta.
When do you plan to retire? We want to throw a big party.
The Reflexive 'Se'
Since this is a reflexive verb, you must use the pronoun 'se' (or 'me,' 'te,' etc.) to show that the action of 'retiring' is done by the subject to themselves.
Forgetting 'se'
Mistake: “Mi padre retiró el año pasado.”
Correction: Mi padre se retiró el año pasado. (If you omit 'se', 'retirar' means 'to withdraw something else,' like money.)
retirar
reh-tee-RAHRre.tiˈɾaɾ
Examples
El atleta se retiró de la competición profesional tras una lesión.
The athlete retired from professional competition after an injury.
El famoso tenista se retiró después de ganar el campeonato.
The famous tennis player retired after winning the championship. (Note the 'se')
El general ordenó a sus tropas retirarse a la base.
The general ordered his troops to retreat to the base.
Si te retiras de la carrera, no puedes volver a participar.
If you withdraw from the race, you cannot participate again.
Reflexive Use is Key
When talking about ending a career or withdrawing oneself from a situation, you must use the reflexive form 'retirarse,' meaning the person is performing the action on themselves (e.g., 'me retiro', 'se retira').
Forgetting the 'Se'
Mistake: “Saying 'Mi padre retiró' instead of 'Mi padre se retiró.'”
Correction: If the action is 'to retire from work,' you need the little word 'se' before the verb form: 'Mi padre *se* retiró' (My father retired).
Choosing Between 'Jubilarse' and 'Retirarse'
Related Translations
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.