funcionario

Funcio nario is a term used in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking contexts to refer to a person who works for an organization, especially a public institution, or more generally an employee. The precise meaning and usage vary by language and country, but the core idea is someone who performs functions as part of an office, agency, or company.

In Portuguese, the form funcionario (female: funcionária) most often means an employee. When applied to the public sector, it denotes a public servant or public employee. In many Portuguese-speaking countries, entry to a public career is linked to a concurso público (public competition) and may carry specific career tracks, statutory rules, and employment protections. In Brazil, for example, the formal designation for public-sector workers is often servidor público, while funcionario is widely used in everyday language to refer to workers in both public and private sectors.

In Spanish, funcionario (feminine funcionaria) generally means a civil servant or public official, i.e., someone employed by the government to administer public services. The term is common across many Spanish-speaking countries, though the exact status, recruitment processes, and benefits can differ. In some contexts, funcionario can also refer to employees of a private organization, but its strongest associations are with public administration and government roles.

Related terms include empleado (employee, broader and more private-sector oriented), servidor público (public servant), and funcionario público (public official). The word's etymology traces to functions and offices—reflecting someone who performs designated duties within an office or institution.

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