How to Say "volunteer" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “volunteer” is “voluntario” — use this word for any person who offers their time and effort without payment, regardless of location or specific type of work.
voluntario
boh-loon-TAH-ree-ohbolunˈtaɾjo
Examples
El voluntario ayudó a repartir comida a los necesitados.
The volunteer helped distribute food to those in need.
Necesitamos más voluntarios para limpiar el parque este sábado.
We need more volunteers to clean the park this Saturday.
Gender Match
Remember that the person's gender matters: 'el voluntario' (male volunteer) and 'la voluntaria' (female volunteer).
misionero
mee-syoh-NEH-rohmisjoˈneɾo
Examples
El misionero construyó una escuela en el pueblo.
The missionary built a school in the village.
Trabajó como misionero durante cinco años en el extranjero.
He worked as a missionary for five years abroad.
Muchos misioneros dedican su vida a ayudar a los más necesitados.
Many missionaries dedicate their lives to helping those most in need.
Dropping the 'A' or 'An'
When you say someone IS a missionary using the verb 'ser', you don't need to use 'un' (a). Just say 'Él es misionero'.
Changing for Gender
This specific word refers to a man. To talk about a woman, you would change the ending to an 'a' (misionera).
Using 'un' with professions
Mistake: “Él es un misionero.”
Correction: Él es misionero. (In Spanish, we don't use 'a/an' when stating someone's job or role after 'ser'.)
General vs. Specific Context
Related Translations
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