trabajar

Trabajar is a Spanish verb meaning to perform labor or to be employed. It can refer to carrying out any kind of task or function, and, for machines, to operate or function. The term is widely used in everyday speech to describe paid employment as well as general activity.

Etymology: The word derives from Latin tripaliare through Old Spanish, from tripalium, a three-pole device used for punishment. Over time the sense broadened to labor and then to work in general. The modern meaning retains a historical connection to exertion, but is neutral in contemporary usage.

Conjugation: Trabajar is a regular -ar verb. In the present indicative it is: yo trabajo, tú trabajas, él/ella/usted trabaja, nosotros trabajamos, vosotros trabajáis, ellos trabajan. The preterite forms are: trabajé, trabajaste, trabajó, trabajamos, trabajasteis, trabajaron. The imperfect forms are: trabajaba, trabajabas, trabajaba, trabajábamos, trabajabais, trabajaban. The past participle is trabajado and the gerund is trabajando. The imperative forms include trabaja (tú), trabaje (usted), trabajemos, trabajad, trabajen (ustedes).

Usage: Trabajar commonly appears with en to indicate where one works (trabajar en una empresa) or para to indicate for whom one works (trabajar para un jefe). It can also mean to operate a device or machine (la máquina trabaja) and to refer to ongoing effort (trabajar duro). The noun trabajo accompanies the verb to denote work as a task or as a job (buscar trabajo; este es mi trabajo). Synonyms include laborar or emplearse, depending on regional preference and formality.