Inklingo

How to Say "worker" in Spanish

English → Spanish

trabajador

trah-bah-hah-DORtɾaβaxaˈðoɾ

nounA1general
Use this as the most general and common term for any person who works, regardless of gender or type of labor.
A smiling construction worker wearing a yellow hard hat and blue overalls, holding a hammer and a piece of wood.

Examples

Necesitamos un trabajador para el turno de la noche.

We need a worker for the night shift.

La empresa tiene cien trabajadores en total.

The company has one hundred employees in total.

Forming the Feminine

To talk about a female worker, change the ending to 'a': 'la trabajadora'.

Confusing Noun and Verb

Mistake: “Using 'trabajador' when you mean the action of working ('trabajar').”

Correction: Use 'trabajador' only for the person; use 'trabajar' for the action. Example: 'Me gusta trabajar' (I like to work).

empleada

em-ple-AH-dahempeˈlaða

nounA1general
Use this specifically for a female employee, especially in a formal or office setting.
A professional woman in business attire sitting at a desk with a laptop and a small desk plant.

Examples

La nueva empleada del banco es muy amable.

The bank's new employee is very kind.

Hay más de cien empleadas en esta fábrica.

There are more than one hundred female employees in this factory.

Gender focus

This word is specifically for a woman. If you are talking about a man, use 'empleado'.

trabajadora

tra-ba-ha-DOR-ahtɾaβaxaˈðoɾa

nounA2general
Use this for a female worker, which can be a general term or refer to someone doing manual labor.
A woman wearing a yellow hard hat and a safety vest, holding a blueprint.

Examples

La trabajadora pidió un aumento de sueldo.

The worker asked for a salary increase.

Ella es una trabajadora social muy respetada.

She is a very respected social worker.

The Female Worker

This noun is the specific version for a female worker. In Spanish, many jobs and roles change their ending to show the person's gender.

obrero

oh-BREH-rohoˈβɾeɾo

nounA2general
Use this term specifically for a male worker who performs manual or physical labor, often in construction or industry.
A worker in blue overalls carrying a toolbox and a wrench.

Examples

El obrero lleva un casco de seguridad.

The worker is wearing a safety helmet.

Los obreros de la fábrica piden mejores salarios.

The factory workers are asking for better wages.

Se necesita un obrero especializado para este trabajo.

A skilled laborer is needed for this job.

Specific Kind of Work

In Spanish, while 'trabajador' can be anyone with a job (like a lawyer or a teacher), 'obrero' is specifically for people who work with their hands, like in factories or construction sites.

Making it Feminine

Even though this entry is for the masculine 'obrero,' you simply change the 'o' to an 'a' (obrera) when talking about a female worker.

Don't use for office staff

Mistake: “Calling an accountant an 'obrero'.”

Correction: Use 'empleado' or 'trabajador'. 'Obrero' implies manual labor.

General vs. Specific 'Worker'

The most common mistake is using a gender-specific term like 'empleada' or 'obrero' when a general term like 'trabajador' would be more appropriate. Always consider if you need to specify gender or type of labor.

Related Translations

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