Gringo on the Job: Jobsite Spanish for Construction Workers
Learn real Spanish for the jobsite — not the classroom. Tap any phrase to hear how it's said.
🔧 Tools & Equipment
| English | Spanish | Phonetic | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hammer | Martillo | mar-TEE-yo | |
| Screwdriver | Destornillador | des-torn-ee-yah-DOR | |
| Drill | Taladro | tah-LAH-droh | |
| Nail gun | Pistola de clavos | pees-TOH-lah deh CLAH-vos | |
| Screw gun | Destornillador eléctrico | des-torn-ee-yah-DOR eh-LEK-tree-koh | |
| Tape measure | Cinta métrica | SEEN-tah MEH-tree-kah | |
| Level | Nivel | nee-VEHL | |
| Extension cord | Extensión | eks-ten-SYON | |
| Battery | Batería | bah-teh-REE-ah | |
| Charger | Cargador | car-gah-DOR |
🗣️ Commands & Common Questions
| English | Spanish | Phonetic | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Do you have a hammer? | ¿Tienes un martillo? | tee-EN-es oon mar-TEE-yo | |
| Can I borrow your drill? | ¿Puedo usar tu taladro? | PWEH-doh oo-SAR too tah-LAH-droh | |
| Where is the ladder? | ¿Dónde está la escalera? | DOHN-deh es-TAH la es-ka-LEH-rah | |
| Give me the saw | Dame la sierra | DAH-meh la SYEHR-rah | |
| Bring the bucket | Trae la cubeta | TRAH-eh la koo-BEH-tah | |
| Cut that board | Corta esa tabla | KOR-tah EH-sah TAH-blah | |
| Hold this | Sostén esto | sos-TEN ES-toh | |
| Watch out! | ¡Cuidado! | kwee-DAH-doh | |
| Move it over there | Mándalo allá | MAN-dah-lo ah-YAH | |
| We’re almost done | Ya casi terminamos | yah KAH-see ter-mee-NAH-mos |
🚨 Safety & Warnings
| English | Spanish | Phonetic | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Move back | Muévete atrás | MWEH-veh-teh ah-TRAS | |
| Put on your helmet | Póngase el casco | PON-gah-seh el CAS-koh | |
| Wear your gloves | Usa los guantes | OO-sah los GWAN-tes | |
| Lift with your legs | Levanta con las piernas | leh-VAHN-tah con las PYER-nas | |
| Don’t step there | No pises ahí | NO PEE-ses ah-EE | |
| Stay alert | Mantente alerta | man-TEN-teh ah-LER-tah | |
| There’s a live wire | Hay un cable energizado | eye oon CAH-bleh en-er-hee-SAH-doh | |
| Fire extinguisher | Extintor de incendios | eks-teen-TOR de in-SEN-dee-ohs | |
| Call 911 | Llama al nueve uno uno | YAH-mah al NWEH-veh OO-no OO-no | |
| We need first aid | Necesitamos primeros auxilios | neh-seh-see-TAH-mos pree-MEH-ros owk-SEE-lyohs |
Jobsite Slang & Small Talk
| English | Spanish | Phonetic | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good morning | Buenos días | BWEH-nos DEE-as | |
| What’s up? | ¿Qué onda? | keh OWN-dah | |
| How are you? | ¿Cómo estás? | COH-moh es-TAHS | |
| Let’s go! | ¡Vámonos! | VAH-moh-nos | |
| Take it easy | Tranquilo | trahn-KEE-loh | |
| Nice job | Buen trabajo | BWEHN trah-BAH-ho | |
| Let’s eat | Vamos a comer | VAH-mos ah coh-MEHR | |
| I’m tired | Estoy cansado | es-TOY cahn-SAH-doh | |
| It’s hot | Hace calor | AH-seh kah-LOR | |
| See you tomorrow | Hasta mañana | AHS-tah mah-NYAH-nah |
🧱 Cabinet Installation
| English | Spanish | Phonetic | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Measure this wall | Mide esta pared | MEE-day ES-tah pah-RED | |
| Hold the cabinet | Sostén el gabinete | soh-STEN el gah-bee-NEH-teh | |
| Level that box | Nivela esa caja | nee-VEH-lah EH-sah KAH-hah | |
| Screw it to the stud | Atorníllalo al montante | ah-tor-NEE-yah-lo al mon-TAHN-teh | |
| Shim the bottom | Calza la parte inferior | KAL-sah lah PAR-teh een-feh-REE-or | |
| Nail the back | Clava la parte trasera | KLAH-vah lah PAR-teh trah-SEH-rah | |
| Get the doors | Trae las puertas | TRAH-eh las PWER-tas | |
| Cut a filler | Corta un relleno | KOR-tah oon reh-YEH-no | |
| Install the handles | Instala las manijas | een-STAH-lah las mah-NEE-has | |
| This one's not square | Esta no está escuadrada | ES-tah noh es-TAH es-kwah-DRAH-dah |
🌿 Landscaping
| English | Spanish | Phonetic | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dig a hole here | Cava un hoyo aquí | KAH-vah oon OH-yo ah-KEE | |
| Bring more mulch | Trae más mantillo | TRAH-eh mahs mahn-TEE-yo | |
| Trim that bush | Recorta ese arbusto | reh-KOR-tah EH-seh ar-BOOS-toh | |
| Water the plants | Riega las plantas | REE-eh-gah las PLAN-tas | |
| Move that rock | Mueve esa piedra | MWEH-veh EH-sah PYEH-drah | |
| Edge the grass | Perfila el césped | pehr-FEE-lah el SES-ped | |
| Watch the roots | Cuidado con las raíces | kwee-DAH-doh kon las rah-EE-ses | |
| We need more dirt | Necesitamos más tierra | neh-seh-see-TAH-mos mahs TYEH-rrah | |
| Clean the tools | Limpia las herramientas | LEEM-pee-ah las eh-rrah-mee-EN-tas | |
| It looks good | Se ve bien | seh VEH byen |
🎨 Painting
| English | Spanish | Phonetic | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tape the edges | Pega cinta en los bordes | PEH-gah SEEN-tah en los BOR-des | |
| Grab a brush | Agarra una brocha | ah-GAR-rah OO-nah BRO-chah | |
| Roll the wall | Rueda la pared | RWEH-dah lah pah-RED | |
| Cut in the corners | Recorta las esquinas | reh-KOR-tah las es-KEE-nas | |
| Mix the paint | Mezcla la pintura | MEHS-klah lah peen-TOO-rah | |
| Don't step there | No pises ahí | no PEE-ses ah-EE | |
| This is wet | Esto está húmedo | ES-toh es-TAH OO-meh-doh | |
| We need more rollers | Necesitamos más rodillos | neh-seh-see-TAH-mos mahs roh-DEE-yos | |
| Open a new can | Abre una lata nueva | AH-breh OO-nah LAH-tah NEW-eh-vah | |
| Clean the tray | Limpia la bandeja | LEEM-pee-ah lah ban-DEH-hah |