Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Human Resources in Spanish
Recursos humanos · noun · reh-KOOR-sohs oo-MAH-nohs
The Spanish term for human resources is 'recursos humanos,' often abbreviated as RRHH in written communication. This phrase is used in professional and corporate settings just as it is in English, referring to the department that manages employee relations, hiring, benefits, and workplace policies.
Recursos humanos is pronounced reh-KOOR-sohs oo-MAH-nohs. The 'h' in 'humanos' is silent, and the stress falls on the second syllable of each word.
Debes hablar con recursos humanos sobre tu contrato.
You should talk to human resources about your contract.
Human Resources in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for human resources, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| recursos humanos | human resources | reh-KOOR-sohs oo-MAH-nohs | Default, widely understood |
| RRHH | human resources | common abbreviation in business contexts |
How Native Speakers Use Recursos humanos
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Workplace inquiry
El departamento de recursos humanos revisará tu solicitud.
The human resources department will review your application.
Referring to HR in a job application process.
Filing a complaint
Presenté una queja ante recursos humanos.
I filed a complaint with human resources.
Describing a formal workplace grievance.
Job posting
Recursos humanos publicó tres vacantes nuevas.
Human resources posted three new openings.
Discussing job listings issued by the HR department.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Recursos humanos
Word order reversal
Incorrect: Humanos recursos se encarga de las contrataciones.
Correct: Recursos humanos se encarga de las contrataciones.
In Spanish, the noun 'recursos' comes before the adjective 'humanos,' unlike the English order 'human resources.'
Dropping the plural
Incorrect: Fui a recurso humano para pedir información.
Correct: Fui a recursos humanos para pedir información.
Both words must remain plural — 'recursos humanos' — to match the standard term for the department.
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Common Questions About Human Resources in Spanish
- What does RRHH stand for in Spanish?
- RRHH stands for 'recursos humanos,' with the doubled letters following the Spanish convention of abbreviating plural words by repeating the initial consonant, similar to EE.UU. for Estados Unidos.
- Is 'recursos humanos' used the same way across all Spanish-speaking countries?
- The term 'recursos humanos' is universally understood throughout the Spanish-speaking world, though some companies in Latin America may also use the English abbreviation 'HR' informally.
- How do you say 'HR manager' in Spanish?
- An HR manager is called 'gerente de recursos humanos' or 'director de recursos humanos,' depending on the company's preferred title structure.