Spanish words as used in Spain

What does ‘currar’ mean in Spain?

Published 5 October 2026 · Lince editorial team

Currar is colloquial Spain Spanish for “to work”, and curro means “job” or “work”: Mañana curro means “I’m working tomorrow” and ¿Qué tal el curro? means “How’s work?”. It is informal but not rude; trabajar and trabajo remain the neutral words.

What currar means

Currar: to work Colloquial

The casual equivalent of trabajar: Curro en una tienda de ropa (“I work in a clothes shop”), Este finde me toca currar (“I have to work this weekend”).

El curro: the job, work Colloquial

Tengo un curro nuevo (“I’ve got a new job”), Me voy al curro (“I’m off to work”).

Currarse algo: to put real effort in Colloquial

Te lo has currado means “You’ve really put work into this”, often as praise for a meal, a present or a project.

Currante: hard-working Colloquial

Es muy currante means “He’s really hard-working”; un currante is also simply a working person.

Where and when you will hear it

The Spanish academies’ dictionary marks currar as colloquial Spain usage. It is extremely common with friends, family and colleagues, but not in job applications, formal emails or interviews.

In Argentina and Uruguay, currar has a different slang meaning, so keep it for conversations in Spain. Elsewhere in Latin America you will hear other informal words for work, such as chamba in Mexico and Peru.

Examples from everyday Spain Spanish

  • Este sábado no puedo quedar, me toca currar.I can’t meet up this Saturday, I have to work.
  • ¿Qué tal el curro nuevo?How’s the new job?
  • Vaya cena, ¡te lo has currado!What a dinner, you’ve really gone all out!
  • Llevo toda la semana currando hasta tarde.I’ve been working late all week.
  • Mi padre es muy currante.My dad is really hard-working.

How to say it

koo-RRAR, stress on the last syllable, with a strong rolled rr: the tip of the tongue taps several times against the ridge behind the top teeth. Curro is KOO-rroh.

Dictionary sources