Spanish · A2 (Elementary)
Work in Spanish: Words & Phrases
Quick answer: The most useful Spanish words for work are el contrato (the contract), el sueldo (the salary / wages) and las vacaciones (the holidays / vacation). The full Spanish work phrase list with example sentences is below.
The essential Spanish vocabulary for work, with example sentences and English translations. This is A2 (Elementary) material — exactly the kind of practical language you need when you're learning Spanish to live, work, or settle abroad.
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Key work vocabulary
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| el contrato | the contract |
| el sueldo | the salary / wages |
| las vacaciones | the holidays / vacation |
| las horas extra | overtime |
| dimitir | to resign |
| contratar | to hire |
| el contrato indefinido | permanent contract |
| el contrato temporal | fixed-term contract |
| la entrevista | the interview |
| el teletrabajo | remote working |
Example sentences
He firmado un nuevo contrato.
I have signed a new contract.
Mi sueldo es de 2.000 euros netos.
My salary is 2,000 euros net.
Tengo veintidós días de vacaciones.
I have twenty-two days of holiday.
He conseguido un contrato indefinido.
I have got a permanent contract.
Quiero dimitir.
I want to resign.
Hago teletrabajo dos días a la semana.
I work remotely two days a week.
How to actually learn these
Reading a vocabulary list is not the same as being able to use the words when it counts. Research on adult language acquisition consistently shows that vocabulary retained through contextual use — hearing a word, producing it under mild pressure, and being corrected when you get it wrong — transfers to real speech far more effectively than passive list review. The fastest way to make vocabulary like this stick is to practise it in the actual conversations where it comes up: not drills, but a real back-and-forth where you have to retrieve the word and say it aloud. Language Lab turns vocabulary like this into voiced, real-life scenarios with Sonia, a live AI language tutor who holds real conversations, corrects you in context, and remembers the specific words you keep getting wrong across sessions. The vocabulary stops being something you read and becomes something you say — automatically, under pressure, when you actually need it.
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