Jobs in Spanish: how to talk about your work

Learn the words and phrases you need to ask someone what they do and talk about your own work in Spanish. Start with these 10 jobs, then see them in useful patterns and a short conversation.

10 jobs to know

Actor vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Actor

English

Actor

Actress vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Actriz

English

Actress

Chef vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Chef

English

Chef

Dentist vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Dentista

English

Dentist

Engineer vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Ingeniero

English

Engineer

Firefighter vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Bombero

English

Firefighter

Lawyer vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Abogado

English

Lawyer

Model vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Modelo

English

Model

Nurse vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Enfermero

English

Nurse

Tattooist vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Tatuador

English

Tattooist

Jobs in context

See how each word sounds inside a natural sentence.

  1. Mi hermano es actor y trabaja en el teatro.My brother is an actor and works in the theatre.
  2. La actriz ensaya una escena para la película.The actress rehearses a scene for the film.
  3. El chef prepara la cena en un restaurante pequeño.The chef prepares dinner in a small restaurant.
  4. Mi dentista trabaja cerca de mi oficina.My dentist works near my office.
  5. El ingeniero diseña puentes para la ciudad.The engineer designs bridges for the city.
  6. El bombero ayuda a la gente en situaciones peligrosas.The firefighter helps people in dangerous situations.
  7. El abogado se reúne con un cliente esta mañana.The lawyer is meeting with a client this morning.
  8. La modelo trabaja para una marca de ropa.The model works for a clothing brand.
  9. El enfermero cuida a los pacientes del hospital.The nurse cares for the hospital's patients.
  10. El tatuador dibuja cada diseño antes de empezar.The tattooist draws each design before starting.

Talking about your job

Use these flexible phrases to ask about someone’s work and describe your own.

¿A qué te dedicas?

What do you do for work?

¿A qué te dedicas? Soy ingeniero.What do you do for work? I'm an engineer.

Soy…

I'm a…

Soy actriz y trabajo en cine.I'm an actress and I work in film.

Trabajo como…

I work as a…

Trabajo como enfermero en un hospital.I work as a nurse in a hospital.

Trabajo en…

I work in/at…

Soy chef y trabajo en un restaurante.I'm a chef and I work in a restaurant.

¿Dónde trabajas?

Where do you work?

¿Dónde trabajas? Soy dentista y trabajo en una clínica.Where do you work? I'm a dentist and I work in a clinic.

A short conversation about work

  1. LucíaHola, Daniel. ¿A qué te dedicas?Hi, Daniel. What do you do for work?
  2. DanielSoy abogado. Trabajo en un despacho pequeño.I'm a lawyer. I work at a small law firm.
  3. Lucía¡Qué interesante! Mi hermana también es abogada.How interesting! My sister is a lawyer too.
  4. Daniel¿Y tú? ¿Dónde trabajas?And you? Where do you work?
  5. LucíaTrabajo como modelo para una tienda de ropa.I work as a model for a clothing shop.
  6. DanielMi compañero de piso es actor, así que también tiene horarios distintos cada semana.My flatmate is an actor, so he also has different hours every week.
  7. LucíaSí, y mi padre es bombero. En mi familia nadie tiene un horario normal.Yes, and my father is a firefighter. No one in my family has a normal schedule.
  8. DanielParece que todos tenéis trabajos muy diferentes.It sounds like you all have very different jobs.

Try one in the VocabTally quiz

Choose the English meaning, just as you would while practising in the app.

00

What does this mean in English?

Bombero

Ready to remember all 10?

Open the Jobs deck and start with the first card. No account needed.

Quiz me on these 10 jobs