Work in Spanish: Examples & Slang Words

In Spanish, “trabajar” means “to work” and “trabajo” means “job”, you can use both words and you will be understood.

However, Spanish native speakers use colloquial expressions or slang terms instead of using “trabajo” and “trabajar”.

For instance, In Costa Rica, when we speak with friends, we use “brete” (job) and bretear (to work) all the time, so you will probably hear “tengo que buscar brete” instead of “tengo que buscar trabajo”

In this post, we’ll explore different ways to say “work” in Spanish, from common verbs to more informal terms.

By the end, you’ll have a better understanding of how to use these words and how they can help you communicate more effectively in a professional and informal context.

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Work in Spanish: Trabajo & Trabajar

To begin with, let’s explore some basic vocabulary related to work in Spanish.

“Trabajo” is the most common word for “work,” and it can refer to both employment and the physical effort required to complete a task.

Some related terms include “empleo” (employment), “ocupación” (occupation), and “labor” (labor).

These sentences will help you understand it:

SPA	Tengo una labor que hacer
EN	I have some work to do

SPA	Mi trabajo es ayudar a los clientes
EN	My job is to help the clients.

SPA	Yo estoy buscando trabajo
EN	I am looking for a job

SPA	Tengo que trabajar
EN	I have to work

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Work in Spanish: Chamba & Chambear

Now let’s move on to the more interesting part: slang and idiomatic expressions.

One of the most common ways to refer to work in a casual setting is “chamba.” This word is mostly used in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, and it can be both a noun and a verb.

SPA	Yo tengo chamba
EN	I have a job

SPA	Voy a chambear
EN	I am going to work

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Work in Spanish: Curro & Currar

Other variations of this word include “curro” (Spain).

SPA	Durante el día curro
EN	I work during the day

SPA	Ahí te dan curro
EN	There you can get a job

SPA	Tiene un montón de curro.
EN	She has a lot of work

SPA	Ese es su nuevo curro.
EN	That’s his new job.

“Currar” is the verb in case you want to make sentences in Spanish about the past, present and future.

SPA	He tenido que currar mucho.
EN	I’ve had to work so hard

SPA	¿Quieres currar en la cocina?
EN	Do you want a job in the kitchen?

SPA	Estoy currando
EN	I am working

SPA	¡No volverás a currar en tu vida!
EN	You’ll never work again in your life!

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Work in Spanish: Brete & Bretear

“Bretear” is a slang term commonly used in some Latin American countries such as Nicaragua and Costa Rica. It means “to work hard”

The word comes from the noun “brete” which means a job or task that requires effort and dedication.

SPA	Tengo que bretear
EN	I have to work

SPA	Estoy buscando brete
EN	I am looking for a job

SPA	No tengo brete
EN	I am looking for a job

It is important to note that “bretear” is considered a colloquialism and may not be widely understood or used in all Spanish-speaking regions.

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Work in Spanish: Jale

“Jale” is another slang term used in some Spanish-speaking countries, particularly in Mexico.

It is an informal term to refer to a job or task, similar to the English word “gig.”

For example, if someone says “tengo un jale para mañana” it means “I have a job for tomorrow.”

SPA	Mañana tengo que ir a mi jale temprano
EN	Tomorrow I have to go to my job early

SPA	Conseguí un jale como mesero en un restaurante
EN	I got a job as a waiter in a restaurant

SPA	¿Ya tienes jale para el verano?
EN	Do you have a summer job yet?

SPA	Tengo un jale nuevo en una tienda de ropa
EN	I have a new job at a clothing store

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