Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Office in Spanish: How to Say Oficina, Despacho, and Consultorio
Oficina · noun (feminine) · oh-fee-SEE-nah
Office in Spanish is oficina, a feminine noun you'll encounter in everyday work life, government errands, and general conversation. If you're referring to a private room where someone works — like a home study or a lawyer's office — despacho is the better choice. For medical settings, consultorio is the go-to word.
Pronounce it oh-fee-SEE-nah with the stress on the third syllable. The c before i makes an s sound in Latin America and a th sound in much of Spain.
La oficina abre a las nueve de la mañana.
The office opens at nine in the morning.
Office in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for office, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| oficina | office | oh-fee-SEE-nah | Default, widely understood |
| despacho | office | private office or study, common in Spain | |
| consultorio | office | doctor's or dentist's office |
How Native Speakers Use Oficina
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Telling someone where you work
Trabajo en una oficina en el centro de la ciudad.
I work in an office downtown.
Oficina is the default word for a workplace or office building.
Referring to a private office
El abogado nos recibió en su despacho.
The lawyer received us in his office.
Despacho suggests a private, often prestigious room — common for lawyers, professors, and executives.
Making a doctor's appointment
El consultorio del dentista queda en la esquina.
The dentist's office is on the corner.
Consultorio is specifically a medical or dental office where patients are seen.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Oficina
Using oficina for a doctor's office
Incorrect: Fui a la oficina del doctor.
Correct: Fui al consultorio del doctor.
In Spanish, a doctor's office is a consultorio, not an oficina. Oficina implies an administrative workplace, not a medical practice.
Confusing oficio with oficina
Incorrect: Voy al oficio a trabajar.
Correct: Voy a la oficina a trabajar.
Oficio means trade or craft, not office. The two words look similar but have completely different meanings.
Lock in Office 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 Oficina used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using oficina in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear La oficina abre a las nueve de la mañana. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About Office in Spanish
- How do you say office in Spanish?
- The most common translation is oficina. It covers standard workplaces, government offices, and commercial office spaces. Use despacho for a private office and consultorio for a doctor's or dentist's office.
- When should I use despacho instead of oficina?
- Use despacho when referring to a private study or office, especially for professionals like lawyers, executives, or academics. In Spain, despacho is very common in this context. Oficina implies a more general or shared workspace.
- What does oficio mean in Spanish?
- Oficio means trade, craft, or profession — not office. It's a common source of confusion for English speakers. De oficio means by profession, while oficina is the word for a physical office.