Spanish Phrases for Talking About Work and School: Practical Expressions for Everyday Conversations


Talking about work and school is one of the most common topics in real-life conversations—whether you’re speaking with coworkers, classmates, neighbors, or Spanish-speaking customers in a professional setting. Learning the right expressions helps you communicate clearly, build rapport, and feel more confident in bilingual environments.

This guide offers practical, easy-to-remember Spanish phrases that cover job roles, workplace routines, school life, study habits, and common questions. It’s written for learners in the U.S., including professionals looking to boost workplace communication, travelers, students, and anyone interacting with Spanish-speaking communities.

We’ll explore beginner-friendly phrases, natural conversation patterns, and examples you can start using immediately.

Why These Phrases Matter

In many regions of the U.S., bilingual communication is part of everyday life. Being able to talk about your job, career goals, classes, and academic plans helps you:

  • Connect professionally with colleagues and clients

  • Communicate clearly in service, retail, healthcare, or hospitality roles

  • Build friendships in bilingual communities

  • Navigate school and university settings

  • Engage in small talk and everyday conversation with confidence

Mastering these expressions also expands your vocabulary around time, tasks, responsibilities, and personal background—key elements of fluency.

Essential Vocabulary for Work and School

Here are useful core words that appear frequently in workplace and classroom conversations:

Work-Related Words

  • Trabajo — Work / job

  • Empleo — Employment

  • Oficina — Office

  • Horario — Schedule

  • Jefe / Jefa — Boss

  • Compañero(a) de trabajo — Coworker

  • Proyecto — Project

  • Reunión — Meeting

  • Tarea laboral — Work task

School-Related Words

  • Escuela — School

  • Universidad — University

  • Clase — Class

  • Maestro / Maestra — Teacher

  • Profesor / Profesora — Professor

  • Estudiante — Student

  • Examen — Exam

  • Tarea — Homework

  • Horario escolar — School schedule

These terms form the building blocks of the longer phrases you’ll learn next.

Phrases for Talking About Your Job

Use these expressions to describe what you do and where you work.

Basic Introductions

  • Trabajo en… — I work in…

  • Soy… — I am a… (profession)

  • Tengo un trabajo de tiempo completo. — I have a full-time job.

  • Trabajo medio tiempo. — I work part-time.

  • Trabajo desde casa. — I work from home.

Talking About Your Role

  • Soy responsable de… — I’m responsible for…

  • Me encargo de… — I handle… / I’m in charge of…

  • Trabajo con clientes. — I work with customers.

  • Trabajo en un equipo pequeño. — I work on a small team.

  • Estoy aprendiendo nuevas habilidades. — I’m learning new skills.

Discussing Daily Tasks

  • Tengo una reunión esta mañana. — I have a meeting this morning.

  • Estoy trabajando en un proyecto importante. — I’m working on an important project.

  • Necesito terminar este informe. — I need to finish this report.

  • Mi horario es flexible. — My schedule is flexible.

Talking About Career Plans

  • Quiero avanzar en mi carrera. — I want to advance in my career.

  • Estoy buscando nuevas oportunidades. — I’m looking for new opportunities.

  • Estoy tomando cursos para mejorar. — I’m taking courses to improve.

Phrases for Asking About Someone’s Job

Use these to keep a conversation going in a natural way.

  • ¿En qué trabajas? — What do you do for a living?

  • ¿Dónde trabajas? — Where do you work?

  • ¿Te gusta tu trabajo? — Do you like your job?

  • ¿Cuál es tu horario? — What’s your schedule like?

  • ¿Cómo es tu jefe? — What is your boss like?

  • ¿Qué tipo de proyectos haces? — What kinds of projects do you work on?

These questions help you learn more about the other person and communicate interest.

Phrases for Talking About School or University

Students, parents, and professionals returning to school can all use these phrases.

Basic Information

  • Estudio en… — I study at…

  • Estoy en la universidad. — I’m in college.

  • Estoy tomando clases de… — I’m taking classes in…

  • Mi especialidad es… — My major is…

  • Tengo clase por la mañana. — I have class in the morning.

Talking About Workload

  • Tengo mucha tarea. — I have a lot of homework.

  • Estoy preparando un examen. — I’m studying for an exam.

  • Estoy trabajando en un proyecto escolar. — I’m working on a school project.

  • Tengo que leer mucho. — I have to read a lot.

Talking About School Life

  • Mis profesores son muy buenos. — My teachers are great.

  • Tengo buenos compañeros de clase. — I have good classmates.

  • La clase es interesante. — The class is interesting.

  • A veces es difícil. — Sometimes it’s difficult.

Phrases for Asking About Someone’s Studies

These help you build rapport with students or coworkers pursuing education.

  • ¿Qué estudias? — What are you studying?

  • ¿En qué universidad estás? — What university do you attend?

  • ¿Te gustan tus clases? — Do you like your classes?

  • ¿Qué tarea tienes hoy? — What homework do you have today?

  • ¿Qué especialidad tienes? — What’s your major?

Useful Phrases for Balancing Work and School

Many people in the U.S. work while attending school, so these expressions are especially helpful.

  • Trabajo y estudio al mismo tiempo. — I work and study at the same time.

  • Mi horario es muy ocupado. — My schedule is very busy.

  • A veces es difícil organizarme. — Sometimes it’s hard to stay organized.

  • Tengo que estudiar después del trabajo. — I have to study after work.

  • Estoy tomando clases nocturnas. — I’m taking evening classes.

Conversation Examples

Below are natural mini-dialogues you can imitate and use.

Work Scenario

A: ¿En qué trabajas?
B: Trabajo en una oficina. Soy asistente administrativo.
A: ¿Te gusta tu trabajo?
B: Sí, es interesante y mi horario es flexible.

School Scenario

A: ¿Qué estudias?
B: Estudio biología.
A: ¿Es difícil?
B: Un poco, pero me gustan mis clases.

Work + School Balance

A: ¿Trabajas o solo estudias?
B: Trabajo y estudio. Tengo clases por la noche.

Tips for Using These Phrases Naturally

  • Start with simple sentences and build complexity gradually.

  • Listen to native speakers and copy their rhythm.

  • Practice aloud, even when alone.

  • Pair phrases with gestures or facial expressions—it improves memory.

  • Use new vocabulary in short journal entries or text messages.

Consistent practice makes these phrases feel automatic in conversations.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to talk about work and school in Spanish helps you engage in everyday conversations, build professional connections, and communicate confidently with Spanish-speaking communities across the U.S. These phrases are practical, versatile, and easy to integrate into real situations—whether you’re speaking at work, in class, or during casual small talk.

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