Spanish vocabulary · Intermediate
In Progress in Spanish: En Curso, En Progreso, and More
En Curso · prepositional phrase · ehn KOOR-soh
In progress translates to en curso in Spanish—the standard way to say something is underway. En progreso, en proceso, and en marcha are alternatives you will encounter in different professional and everyday contexts.
ehn KOOR-soh. Two words, stress on KOOR. En progreso is ehn proh-GREH-soh; en proceso is ehn proh-SEH-soh; en marcha is ehn MAHR-chah.
El proyecto sigue en curso.
The project is still in progress.
In Progress in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for in progress, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| en curso | in progress | ehn KOOR-soh | Default, widely understood |
| en progreso | in progress | direct cognate, common in tech and project management | |
| en proceso | in progress | emphasizes an ongoing process or procedure | |
| en marcha | in progress | implies active momentum, often used for plans and projects |
How Native Speakers Use En Curso
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Project status update
La migración de datos está en curso y terminará el viernes.
The data migration is in progress and will finish on Friday.
En curso is the default phrase in professional Spanish for reporting that work is underway.
Software dashboard label
Tareas en progreso: 5 de 12 completadas.
Tasks in progress: 5 of 12 completed.
En progreso appears frequently in tech tools and agile boards, influenced by the English cognate.
Describing an ongoing investigation
La investigación ya está en marcha desde la semana pasada.
The investigation has been in progress since last week.
En marcha adds a sense of active momentum—things are moving and won't stop.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using En Curso
Saying en progreso when en curso is more natural
Incorrect: La obra está en progreso.
Correct: La obra está en curso.
For construction or non-tech contexts, en curso is more idiomatic. En progreso is widely understood but sounds like a direct translation from English and can feel unnatural outside technology settings.
Confusing en proceso with en progreso
Incorrect: Tu solicitud está en progreso de aprobación.
Correct: Tu solicitud está en proceso de aprobación.
When describing a step-by-step procedure (approval, review, verification), en proceso is the right fit because it highlights the procedural stages. En progreso implies forward movement on a task, not a bureaucratic pipeline.
Lock in In Progress Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See En Curso used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using en curso in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear El proyecto sigue en curso. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About In Progress in Spanish
- Which phrase is best for a work email?
- En curso is the safest and most professional choice. It is universally understood, carries no regional baggage, and sounds polished in formal communications.
- Is en progreso a Spanglish term?
- Progreso exists as a legitimate Spanish noun meaning progress, but the prepositional phrase en progreso as a status label gained popularity through English-influenced software interfaces, so some speakers consider it less traditional than en curso.
- Can I use en marcha for a personal goal?
- En marcha works perfectly in casual conversation—mi plan para ahorrar dinero ya está en marcha (My savings plan is already in progress) sounds perfectly natural. En marcha works for anything actively moving forward, whether professional or personal.