Professions and Jobs in Spanish: A1 Beginner’s Vocabulary Guide
◄ Back to A1 Vocabulary Hub | Practice with Professions Quiz ►
Key Takeaways
- Learn the Spanish words for common professions and jobs.
- Master the simple sentence structure to say what you do and what others do.
- Understand the basic rules for the gender of job titles.
- Practice asking others about their profession.
Introduction to Professions Vocabulary
Talking about professions is one of the most practical skills for an A1 Spanish learner. It allows you to introduce yourself, describe others, and make conversation. This guide will teach you the essential vocabulary and the simple grammar you need to talk about jobs confidently .
Part 1: Common Professions Vocabulary
Here is a list of common professions you are likely to use and hear as a beginner.
Common Professions (Masculine & Feminine)
| English | Spanish (Male) | Spanish (Female) |
|---|---|---|
| the teacher | el profesor | la profesora |
| the doctor | el médico / el doctor | la médica / la doctora |
| the student | el estudiante | la estudiante |
| the engineer | el ingeniero | la ingeniera |
| the architect | el arquitecto | la arquitecta |
| the cook / chef | el cocinero | la cocinera |
| the waiter | el camarero | la camarera |
| the policeman / policewoman | el policía | la policía |
| the nurse | el enfermero | la enfermera |
| the lawyer | el abogado | la abogada |
| the journalist | el periodista | la periodista |
| the businessman / businesswoman | el empresario | la empresaria |
Profession Nouns That Do Not Change Gender
Some nouns ending in -ista or -e have the same form for both masculine and feminine. Only the article changes.
| English | Spanish (Male) | Spanish (Female) |
|---|---|---|
| the artist | el artista | la artista |
| the dentist | el dentista | la dentista |
| the taxi driver | el taxista | la taxista |
Example Sentences:
- Él es un artista famoso. – He is a famous artist.
- La dentista es muy amable. – The (female) dentist is very kind.
Part 2: How to Talk About Professions
Saying What You Do
To say what your profession is, you use the verb Ser (to be). This is because your profession is seen as a fundamental part of your identity .
The structure is very simple:
Subject + Ser + Profession
- Yo soy profesor. – I am a teacher. (male)
- Yo soy profesora. – I am a teacher. (female)
- Ella es médica. – She is a doctor.
- Nosotros somos estudiantes. – We are students.
💡 A1 Grammar Tip: Using the verb Ser can be tricky at first. For a complete guide, check out our dedicated A1 lesson on Ser vs. Estar.
Asking Someone About Their Job
- ¿A qué te dedicas? – What do you do for a living? (Informal)
- ¿En qué trabajas? – What do you work as? (Informal)
- ¿Cuál es tu profesión? – What is your profession? (Neutral)
To ask formally, simply change the pronoun:
- ¿A qué se dedica (usted)? – What do you do for a living? (Formal)
Using Articles with Professions
In Spanish, you often use the definite article (el, la) when talking about professions in general statements.
- Los médicos ayudan a las personas. – Doctors help people.
- Me gusta la profesora. – I like the teacher.
However, when stating someone’s profession after Ser, you can often omit the indefinite article (un, una).
- Correct: Soy cocinero. (I am a cook.)
- Also possible but less common: Soy un cocinero.
Part 3: Key Grammar for Professions
Gender of Nouns
As you’ve seen in the vocabulary list, professions have genders. Generally:
- Nouns ending in -o are masculine (el médico).
- Nouns ending in -a are feminine (la médica).
💡 A1 Grammar Tip: Understanding noun gender is a fundamental A1 skill. If you need a refresher, our Gender of Nouns in Spanish guide can help.
Making Profession Nouns Plural
To make professions plural, you typically follow the standard rules:
- If a noun ends in a vowel, add -s.
- el profesor → los profesores
- la doctora → las doctoras
- If a noun ends in a consonant, add -es.
- el actor → los actores (the actor → the actors)
Quick Reference Chart
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| What do you do? (Informal) | ¿A qué te dedicas? |
| I am a/an… | Yo soy… |
| He/She is a/an… | Él/Ella es… |
| We are… | Nosotros somos… |
| The teacher (male/female) | El profesor / La profesora |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting Gender Agreement: Always match the profession’s gender to the person. Don’t say “Él es profesora.” It must be “Él es profesor.”
- Overusing Articles: Remember, you don’t need “un” or “una” after “Ser” in simple statements like “Soy ingeniero.”
- Confusing Verb Conjugations: Make sure the form of Ser matches the subject. Review Spanish Subject Pronouns if you are unsure.
Ready to Practice?
Now that you know how to talk about professions and jobs in Spanish, it’s time to test your knowledge!
Take our Spanish Professions Quiz ► to practice this essential vocabulary.
What’s Next in Your A1 Spanish Journey?
◄ Family Members in Spanish | Countries & Nationalities in Spanish ►
