How to Ask “What Do You Do for Work?” in Spanish

Learning how to ask someone about their profession or work is a fundamental part of mastering Spanish, especially if you want to engage in meaningful conversations. Here are three different ways to ask “What do you do for work?” in Spanish.

1. ¿Cuál es su profesión?

This question translates directly to “What is your profession?” It’s a formal and straightforward way to ask someone about their job. This is often used in formal settings or when you want to be polite and respectful.

Example:

• Q: ¿Cuál es su profesión?
• A: Soy médico. (I am a doctor.)

You can also use this question in informal settings by changing “su” to “tu”:

• Q: ¿Cuál es tu profesión?
• A: Soy ingeniero. (I am an engineer.)

2. ¿En qué trabaja usted?

This translates to “In what do you work?” or more naturally, “What do you do for work?” This question is versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though it’s slightly more formal due to the use of “usted.”

Example:

• Q: ¿En qué trabaja usted?
• A: Trabajo en una empresa de tecnología. (I work in a technology company.)

For a more informal approach, you can replace “usted” with “tú”:

• Q: ¿En qué trabajas tú?
• A: Trabajo en marketing. (I work in marketing.)

3. ¿A qué se dedica?

This phrase translates to “What do you dedicate yourself to?” It is a common and idiomatic way to ask about someone’s profession or main occupation. It implies a deeper inquiry into what the person does regularly or passionately, beyond just a job title.

Example:

• Q: ¿A qué se dedica?
• A: Me dedico a la enseñanza. (I dedicate myself to teaching.)

In an informal context, you would say:

• Q: ¿A qué te dedicas?
• A: Me dedico al diseño gráfico. (I dedicate myself to graphic design.)

Summary

Each of these questions offers a slightly different way to ask about someone’s job in Spanish. Here’s a quick recap:

1. ¿Cuál es su profesión? – “What is your profession?” (Formal and direct)
2. ¿En qué trabaja usted? – “What do you do for work?” (Versatile and slightly formal)
3. ¿A qué se dedica? – “What do you dedicate yourself to?” (Idiomatic and slightly deeper)

Understanding these variations can help you choose the most appropriate question based on the context and the level of formality required.