When you’re learning Spanish for beginners, knowing basic Spanish words can make everyday conversations a lot easier. Occupations are one of those must-know topics—you’ll hear them in small talk, job interviews, or even when asking someone what they do for a living.
Whether you’re traveling, making new friends, or just expanding your vocabulary, learning job titles in Spanish helps you connect and express yourself better.
As a Spanish learner myself, I’ve learned the hard way that aiming for fluency right away isn’t the best goal when learning a new language. So, if you’re just starting out with Spanish, I highly recommend familiarizing yourself with the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference). It will guide you on what to focus on at each stage of your learning journey. Check out this article to get a clearer idea of what you should learn as a beginner and what’s expected of you along the way.
Basic Spanish Words: Common Occupations in Spanish
If you’re learning Spanish for beginners, knowing job titles is super useful. Here’s a list of common occupations in Spanish with their English translations to help you get started.
- Médico / Médica – Doctor
- Enfermero / Enfermera – Nurse
- Profesor / Profesora – Teacher
- Ingeniero / Ingeniera – Engineer
- Abogado / Abogada – Lawyer
- Policía – Police officer
- Bombero / Bombera – Firefighter
- Cocinero / Cocinera – Cook / Chef
- Camarero / Camarera – Waiter / Waitress
- Dependiente / Dependienta – Sales assistant
- Actor / Actriz – Actor / Actress
- Escritor / Escritora – Writer
- Periodista – Journalist
- Músico / Música – Musician
- Peluquero / Peluquera – Hairdresser
- Artista – Artist
- Arquitecto / Arquitecta – Architect
- Electricista – Electrician
- Fontanero / Fontanera – Plumber
- Carpintero / Carpintera – Carpenter
Gender Variations
In Spanish, some job titles change based on gender, usually by adjusting the word’s ending. Here’s a simple breakdown:
- Most words ending in “-o” for men change to “-a” for women:
- Cocinero → Cocinera (Cook)
- Abogado → Abogada (Lawyer)
- Médico → Médica (Doctor)
- Words ending in “-or” typically add “-a” for the feminine form:
- Profesor → Profesora (Teacher)
- Director → Directora (Director)
- Escritor → Escritora (Writer)
- Some occupations use the same word for both genders:
- Periodista (Journalist)
- Artista (Artist)
- Policía (Police officer)
- Electricista (Electrician)
Learning Spanish for Beginners: Practice What You´ve Learned
Now that you’ve learned some common occupations in Spanish, let’s put them into practice. Here are a few simple example sentences to help you use them in everyday conversations.
Asking about someone’s job:
- ¿A qué te dedicas? – What do you do for a living?
- ¿En qué trabajas? – What’s your job?
- Soy médico. – I’m a doctor.
- Ella es profesora. – She is a teacher.
Talking about someone else’s job:
- Mi hermano es ingeniero. – My brother is an engineer.
- Mi madre es enfermera. – My mother is a nurse.
- Juan es electricista y trabaja en una empresa grande. – Juan is an electrician and works in a big company.
Expressing future plans:
- Voy a ser abogado. – I’m going to be a lawyer.
- Quiero ser actriz. – I want to be an actress.
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Conclusion: Learning Spanish for Beginners
Learning Spanish for beginners is all about building a strong vocabulary, and knowing basic Spanish words like occupations helps you feel more confident in conversations. Whether you’re introducing yourself, asking about someone’s job, or planning your future career in Spanish, these words are practical and easy to use.
Try practicing by saying your own job in Spanish or asking a friend what they do. The more you use these words, the more natural they’ll feel!