Spanish For Business: 18 Phrases To Know When Working Abroad

• The guide offers 18 practical Spanish phrases for workplace essentials: scheduling meetings, confirming attendance, reserving rooms, and assuring logistics.

• It covers discussion and negotiation language to steer meetings politely and clearly, including presenting, disagreeing, referencing minutes, and addressing misunderstandings.

• Contract and strategy talk gets spotlighted with phrases like ¿Cuándo firmamos el contrato? and Tienen en cuenta la estrategia, useful for collaboration and decision-making.

• Email etiquette is included with ready-to-use openers/closers and common actions: Queridos compañeros:, No duden en contactarme, Quedo pendiente de su respuesta.

In this increasingly global business world, chances are fairly high that you’ll either have Spanish-speaking colleagues or travel to a Spanish-speaking country for a work trip. Learning basic Spanish for business can make meetings run more smoothly, strengthen working relationships, and make you a valuable asset for global companies.

Even if you don't have plans to work abroad any time soon, professional communication skills in another language can give you a competitive edge in the job market. In fact, speaking another language can help boost your career opportunities and salary even if you stay in the U.S.

Whatever your reason for learning work-related Spanish, this guide can help! When you're done reading, take more time to learn Spanish for business in the Babbel app.

Common Spanish Business Vocabulary

Build your foundation of vocabulary for a variety of situations you'll find when you speak Spanish in the workplace.

Scheduling A Meeting

Tenemos que convocar una reunión. — We have to call a meeting.

Programaron la cita para mañana. — They scheduled the appointment for tomorrow.

Él confirmó su asistencia. — He confirmed his attendance.

¿Podrías reservar la sala de conferencias? — Could you reserve the conference room?

¡No te preocupes, todo está arreglado! — Don’t worry, everything is settled!

Discussing Business Topics

Me gustaría presentar el proyecto. — I would like to present the project.

Tienes la palabra. — You have the floor.

No comparto su opinión. — I don’t share your opinion.

Se trató de un pequeño malentendido. — It was a small misunderstanding.

La minuta de la reunión pasada contiene una lista de varias ideas excelentes. — The minutes of the last meeting contain a list of various excellent ideas.

Tienen en cuenta la estrategia. — They’re keeping the strategy in mind.

¿Cuándo firmamos el contrato? — When do we sign the contract?

Writing And Sending Emails

Queridos compañeros: — Dear colleagues,

No duden en contactarme. — Don’t hesitate to contact me.

Quedo pendiente de su respuesta. — I look forward to your response.

Saludos cordiales, — Kind regards,

¿Podrías reenviarme este correo? — Could you forward me this email?

Te pongo en copia. — I’ll copy you in.

How to Learn Business Spanish Skills

Working in your second language can be intimidating no matter your level of Spanish language skills. In addition to what you just learned here and continuing to improve your Spanish fluency, learning and practicing vocabulary specific to your industry will help you in your day to day work.

The expressions in this guide are all pulled from Babbel's Spanish for Business Course. Consider it a free sample of the skills this Spanish course can teach you. Master the vocabulary, grammar, listening comprehension, and everything else you'll need to confidently interact with Spanish speakers in the workplace.