Business Spanish can sound quite different than everyday Spanish. If you have been transferred to a Spanish speaking country or work in an industry where the Spanish language dominates, then you might be in need to learn more business vocabulary in Spanish and vocabulary for the workplace.
In this post, I set out to give you a comprehensive guide to business Spanish. Everything from getting your first interview to talking with your coworkers to writing professional emails.
Also, we will clarify the popular tú and usted conundrum. When do you use which?
Let’s get started.
Entrevistas de trabajo: Speaking at your interview & succeeding in it.
During a job interview, it is important to know what kind of questions you might be presented with. Below are some of the most common questions and some vocabulary to give the best answers.
| Cuéntanos sobre ti/Háblame sobre ti | Tell us/me about yourself… | Yo soy…
He trabajado como… Estoy encargado de… |
| ¿Cuáles son tus fortalezas y debilidades? | What are your strengths and weaknesses? | Me considero una persona trabajadora, ambiciosa, etc.
A veces tengo dificultad para… |
| ¿Cómo te describirían tus compañeros de trabajo? ¿O tu jefe? | How would your coworkers or boss describe you? | Creo que me describirían como una persona (emprendedora, atenta, colaboradora…) |
| ¿Dónde te ves a ti mismo en los próximos cinco años? | Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years? | Dentro de cinco años, me veo trabajando en…
En el futuro, me gustaría… |
| ¿Qué sabes de nuestra empresa? | What do you know about our company? | Entiendo que se dedican a… |
| ¿Por qué estás interesado en esta posición laboral? | Why are you interested in this position? | Este trabajo se alinea con mis intereses laborales.
Creo que puedo hacer un buen trabajo en el área de… |
¿Cómo escribir correos profesionales?
Writing formal & professional emails in Spanish.
Okay. Awesome! You got the job! Now, let’s focus on getting you writing emails in a professional way to impress your boss, and show them they made the right decision!
Saludos/Greetings
Estimado/a Sr. o Sra.
Estimado cliente,
Querido colega,
María:
Buenos días/Buenas tardes, María:
Introducir el mensaje/Introducing the reason for your message
Me comunico con usted para informarle…
Quería participarle la siguiente información…
La razón de mi mensaje es…
El motivo por el que me comunico…
Despedida/Closing the email
Quedo a la espera de…
Quedo atenta a su respuesta.
Si tiene alguna duda, no dude en comunicarse conmigo.
Estoy a su disposición para cualquier ayuda.
Firma/Signing off
Un cordial saludo, (your name)
Atentamente, (your name)
The Tú & Usted conundrum – Talking with your boss and coworkers.
If you’ve studied Spanish before, you’ve probably come across two forms to address someone in Spanish. That is two pronouns that are the equivalente to “you” in English: Tú and Usted.
You were also probably told that tú is informal and usted is formal. And this is most often true.
🗯 Fun fact: Did you know that in countries like Colombia, usted is actually used with friends and family?
Now, in a office environment, using tú or usted can be tricky, but when in doubt, the following can help:
- When talking to your boss or clients, at first, always use USTED. Using tú with your boss is only possible after you’ve developed a relationship with him or her over the years, and only if you and your boss are of a similar age. The same goes for clients. Spanish speakers will usually let you know when it’s okay to talk to them using tú.
- When talking with your colleagues: Again, if you and your teammates are in a similar age range, tú is possible. However, some people prefer to keep things a bit more formal at the beginning, so the rule of thumb is to let them decide. If they address you using tú, you can do the same.
- ¿Nos podemos tutear? – This is a good question to ask someone who you are developing a friendship with and feel comfortable to address them with tú, but are still unsure if it’s okay with them. The verb “tutear” simply means calling someone using tú. So, when you ask ¿Nos podemos tutear? You are asking ¿Can we be more informal with each other?
Spanish for business meetings & discussions.
Finally, here are some expressions and phrases you can use when you are at a meeting with your teammates (aka compañeros de trabajo). Use these expressions to negotiate, debate, ask for a speaking turn, disagree with someone’s point of view, come to an agreement, and more!
Presentar una opinión/Presenting your opinion
Desde mi punto de vista
Para mí,
En mi opinión
Personalmente
Añadir argumentos/Adding arguments
Además
Por otro lado
Por otra parte
Pedir acuerdo/Ask for agreement
¿No cree que…?
¿No te parece que…?
¿No estás de acuerdo con que…?
Pedir permiso para hablar o interrumpir/Asking for a speaking turn, interrupting someone.
Déjame decir algo
Déjame terminar
Perdón que te/le interrumpa
Si puedo decir algo, por favor.
Rápidamente, quería decir…
Expresar acuerdo o desacuerdo/Agreeing or disagreeing with someone
To agree:
Ciertamente
No cabe duda.
Totalmente de acuerdo.
To disagree:
No estoy acuerdo
No me parece que…
Llegar a conclusiones/Reaching a conclusion
En conclusión
En pocas palabras
Para resumir
Isabel Solano