Workplace Spanish
Need to re-learn some workplace Spanish? Even if it wasn’t technically a lie when you put “fluent in Spanish” on your resume 15 years ago, chances are good that you’ve forgotten a lot of the Spanish vocabulary that would actually help you get by if that one hispanohablante client called you today… These business-related words and phrases could get you out of a tight spot at work.
For most people in the United States, being bilingual in Spanish and English is far from a job requirement, but that doesn’t mean it can’t come in handy. A little goes a long way: If you have Spanish clients, patients, employees, coworkers, or any type of business partner at all, a couple of key words and phrases could not only keep you out of trouble, but help with your communication and build a better business relationship. The mere fact that you’ve gone the extra mile to connect with a Spanish-speaking customer can speak volumes. That little additional effort shows, and it could be the factor that gives you an edge over your competition and helps to close that big international deal.
Most useful Spanish phrases for the workplace
Obviously, it’s not feasible for most people to become fluent in Spanish at a business level without significant training or practice (which if you’re interested in, you can find out more about here), but learning these key phrases can make a big difference:
Spanish workplace vocabulary
Useful Spanish words for business professionals| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| administrar el proyecto | manage the project |
| asistir a una reunión | attend a meeting |
| contestar el teléfono | answer the phone |
| coordinar | coordinate |
| dirigir la reunión | direct the meeting |
| discutir | discuss |
| el archivo | file |
| el ascensor | elevator |
| el compromise | commitment |
| el departamento | department |
| el despacho | office |
| el documento | document |
| el edificio | building |
| el empleo | job |
| el escritorio | desk |
| el informe | report |
| el informe | report |
| el pasillo | corridor |
| el personal | staff |
| el presupuesto | budget |
| el programa | software |
| el secretario | secretary |
| el teclado | keyboard |
| elegir | select |
| entregar | deliver |
| enviar un fax | send a fax |
| escribir la correspondencia | write letters |
| exportar mercancías | export goods |
| fotocopiar | photocopy |
| gerencial | managerial |
| hacer el trabajo de oficina | do paperwork |
| importar | import |
| imprimir | to print |
| la base de datos | database |
| la captura | capture or process |
| la carta | letter |
| la cita | appointment |
| la computadora | computer |
| la entrevista | interview |
| la factura | invoice |
| la oficina | office |
| la planta | floor |
| la recomendación | recommendation |
| la reunión | meeting |
| la sala de juntas | meeting room |
| la sección | section |
| la secretaria | female secretary |
| nombrar | appoint |
| pagar | pay |
| programar | to program |
| promover | promote |
| teclear | to type |
| transportar | transport |
| vender | sell |
Learning business Spanish
This is certainly not an exhaustive list of useful business-related Spanish vocabulary, but it’s a great place to start. If you want to learn more, check out these Spanish business books and kindle books:
Additional resources for learning Spanish for business
| Image | Publisher | Product | Author | Length | Type | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | BookSurge Publishing | Spanish in the Workplace | Roberto A. Gonzalez | 134 pages | Paperback | Check price |
 | CreateSpace | Spanish for Managers: Essential Power Words and Phrase | Antonio Del Torro | 28 pages | Paperback | Check price |
 | Barron's | How to Communicate with Your Spanish Employees | William C. Harvey M.S. | 304 pages | Paperback | Check price |
 | Workplace Languages | Survival Spanish for Restaurant Management | Ed Rosheim | 48 pages | Paperback | Check price |
 | CreateSpace | Spanish for Customer Service Workers | Antonio Del Torro | 32 pages | Paperback | Check price |
 | SpeakEasy | Survival Spanish For Customer Service | Myelita Melton | 99 pages | Paperback | Check price |
 | Workplace ESL Solutions | Workplace Spanish | Leslie Holloway | 100 pages | Paperback | Check price |
 | Minute Help Guides | Essential Power Words and Phrases for Workplace Survival | Antonio Del Torro | 28 pages | Kindle | Download Now |
 | Minute Help Guides | Spanish for Secretaries | Antonio Del Torro | 32 pages | Kindle | Download Now |
 | Grupo Nelson | Mentor 101 | John C. Maxwell | 128 pages | Kindle | Download Now |
| Grupo Nelson | Spanish in the Workplace | John C. Maxwell | 2 hours and 49 minutes | Audiobook | Get it free |
 | Lingo Mastery | Spanish for Managers: Essential Power Words and Phrase | Lingo Mastery | 5 hours and 35 minutes | Audiobook | Get it free |
 | Unitexto | How to Communicate with Your Spanish Employees | Sarah Retter | 1 hour and 44 minutes | Audiobook | Get it free |
 | Polyglot Planet Publishing | Workplace Spanish | Polyglot Planet | 41 minutes | Audiobook | Get it free |
More Spanish for the workplace resources
Other Language-Pro articles you may enjoy:
Learning Spanish while you work
Learn Spanish on your commute
Best FREE Spanish audiobooks for beginners
How to say the color orange in Spanish.
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