🏢 Office Life

⏱ 16 min read

In this lesson you will learn useful English vocabulary and everyday expressions for talking about the office and workplace, including coworkers, meetings, emails, documents, schedules, deadlines, and common situations at work. Each English word or phrase includes a simple meaning plus translations in several languages.

🟢 Basic Office Vocabulary

🏢 Office
the place where people work at desks
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Oficina
🇫🇷 French: Bureau
🇩🇪 German: Büro
🇮🇹 Italian: Ufficio
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Escritório
👔 Boss
the person in charge at work
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Jefe / Jefa
🇫🇷 French: Patron / Patronne / Chef
🇩🇪 German: Chef / Chefin
🇮🇹 Italian: Capo / Responsabile
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Chefe
👥 Coworker / Colleague
a person who works with you
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Compañero / Compañera de trabajo
🇫🇷 French: Collègue
🇩🇪 German: Kollege / Kollegin
🇮🇹 Italian: Collega
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Colega de trabalho
💻 Computer
the machine used to write, send email, and work
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Computadora / Ordenador
🇫🇷 French: Ordinateur
🇩🇪 German: Computer
🇮🇹 Italian: Computer
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Computador
📅 Meeting
a planned time when people talk about work
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Reunión
🇫🇷 French: Réunion
🇩🇪 German: Meeting / Besprechung
🇮🇹 Italian: Riunione
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Reunião
📋 Project
a piece of work with a goal and a deadline
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Proyecto
🇫🇷 French: Projet
🇩🇪 German: Projekt
🇮🇹 Italian: Progetto
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Projeto

🟡 Office & Work Vocabulary

📧 Email
a written message sent by computer
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Correo electrónico
🇫🇷 French: E-mail / Courriel
🇩🇪 German: E-Mail
🇮🇹 Italian: E-mail
🇵🇹 Portuguese: E-mail / Correio eletrônico
📄 Document
a written file with information
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Documento
🇫🇷 French: Document
🇩🇪 German: Dokument
🇮🇹 Italian: Documento
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Documento
📊 Report
a written summary of facts or results
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Informe
🇫🇷 French: Rapport
🇩🇪 German: Bericht
🇮🇹 Italian: Relazione / Report
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Relatório
📅 Schedule
a plan of times for work and meetings
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Horario
🇫🇷 French: Horaire / Planning
🇩🇪 German: Zeitplan / Terminplan
🇮🇹 Italian: Orario / Programma
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Horário / Agenda
⏰ Deadline
the last day or time something must be finished
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Fecha límite
🇫🇷 French: Date limite / Délai
🇩🇪 German: Frist / Deadline
🇮🇹 Italian: Scadenza
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Prazo / Data limite
📁 File / Folder
a place to keep documents on a computer or paper
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Archivo / Carpeta
🇫🇷 French: Fichier / Dossier
🇩🇪 German: Datei / Ordner
🇮🇹 Italian: File / Cartella
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Arquivo / Pasta

🔵 Workplace Actions

💼 To work
to do your job
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Trabajar
🇫🇷 French: Travailler
🇩🇪 German: Arbeiten
🇮🇹 Italian: Lavorare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Trabalhar
📧 To send
to give an email or file to someone
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Enviar
🇫🇷 French: Envoyer
🇩🇪 German: Senden / Schicken
🇮🇹 Italian: Inviare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Enviar
📥 To receive
to get an email, file, or message
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Recibir
🇫🇷 French: Recevoir
🇩🇪 German: Empfangen / Erhalten
🇮🇹 Italian: Ricevere
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Receber
📅 To schedule
to set a time for a meeting or task
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Programar
🇫🇷 French: Planifier / Programmer
🇩🇪 German: Planen / Ansetzen
🇮🇹 Italian: Programmare / Fissare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Agendar / Programar
📄 To review
to look at something carefully and check it
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Revisar
🇫🇷 French: Réviser / Examiner
🇩🇪 German: Überprüfen / Durchsehen
🇮🇹 Italian: Rivedere / Controllare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Revisar / Analisar
✅ To finish / Complete
to bring a task to the end
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Terminar / Completar
🇫🇷 French: Terminer / Achever
🇩🇪 German: Beenden / Abschließen
🇮🇹 Italian: Finire / Completare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Terminar / Completar

🧠 Talking About Work

💡 Use the present continuous (am/is/are + -ing) to talk about work that is happening right now.
I'm working on the report.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Estoy trabajando en el informe.
🇫🇷 Je travaille sur le rapport.
🇩🇪 Ich arbeite an dem Bericht.
🇮🇹 Sto lavorando sul report.
🇵🇹 Estou trabalhando no relatório.
We're preparing the presentation.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Estamos preparando la presentación.
🇫🇷 Nous préparons la présentation.
🇩🇪 Wir bereiten die Präsentation vor.
🇮🇹 Stiamo preparando la presentazione.
🇵🇹 Estamos preparando a apresentação.
💡 Use have to + infinitive to talk about tasks and responsibilities you must complete.
I have to finish the report today.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Tengo que terminar el informe hoy.
🇫🇷 Je dois terminer le rapport aujourd'hui.
🇩🇪 Ich muss den Bericht heute fertigstellen.
🇮🇹 Devo finire il report oggi.
🇵🇹 Tenho que terminar o relatório hoje.
We have to send the documents before Friday.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Tenemos que enviar los documentos antes del viernes.
🇫🇷 Nous devons envoyer les documents avant vendredi.
🇩🇪 Wir müssen die Dokumente vor Freitag schicken.
🇮🇹 Dobbiamo inviare i documenti prima di venerdì.
🇵🇹 Temos que enviar os documentos antes de sexta-feira.
💡 Use have a meeting when talking about having or attending a meeting.
I have a meeting with my boss at ten.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Tengo una reunión con mi jefe a las diez.
🇫🇷 J'ai une réunion avec mon patron à dix heures.
🇩🇪 Ich habe um zehn Uhr ein Meeting mit meinem Chef.
🇮🇹 Ho una riunione con il mio capo alle dieci.
🇵🇹 Tenho uma reunião com o meu chefe às dez.
We have an important meeting this afternoon.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Tenemos una reunión importante esta tarde.
🇫🇷 Nous avons une réunion importante cet après-midi.
🇩🇪 Wir haben heute Nachmittag ein wichtiges Meeting.
🇮🇹 Abbiamo una riunione importante questo pomeriggio.
🇵🇹 Temos uma reunião importante esta tarde.

❓ Useful Workplace Questions

📅 What time is the meeting?
asking when the meeting starts
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿A qué hora es la reunión?
🇫🇷 French: À quelle heure est la réunion ?
🇩🇪 German: Um wie viel Uhr ist das Meeting?
🇮🇹 Italian: A che ora è la riunione?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: A que horas é a reunião?
⏰ What is the deadline?
asking the last day the work is due
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Cuál es la fecha límite?
🇫🇷 French: Quelle est la date limite ?
🇩🇪 German: Was ist die Frist?
🇮🇹 Italian: Qual è la scadenza?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Qual é o prazo?
📧 Did you receive my email?
checking if someone got your message
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Recibiste mi correo electrónico?
🇫🇷 French: As-tu reçu mon e-mail ?
🇩🇪 German: Hast du meine E-Mail bekommen?
🇮🇹 Italian: Hai ricevuto la mia e-mail?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Você recebeu o meu e-mail?
📄 Can you review this document?
asking someone to check a file
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Puedes revisar este documento?
🇫🇷 French: Peux-tu revoir ce document ?
🇩🇪 German: Kannst du dieses Dokument überprüfen?
🇮🇹 Italian: Puoi rivedere questo documento?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Você pode revisar este documento?
🤝 Can you help me with this project?
asking a coworker for help
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Puedes ayudarme con este proyecto?
🇫🇷 French: Peux-tu m'aider avec ce projet ?
🇩🇪 German: Kannst du mir bei diesem Projekt helfen?
🇮🇹 Italian: Puoi aiutarmi con questo progetto?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Você pode me ajudar com este projeto?
📋 When do we have to finish the project?
asking the due date for the project
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Cuándo tenemos que terminar el proyecto?
🇫🇷 French: Quand devons-nous terminer le projet ?
🇩🇪 German: Wann müssen wir das Projekt fertigstellen?
🇮🇹 Italian: Quando dobbiamo finire il progetto?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Quando temos que terminar o projeto?

💬 Common Office & Workplace Phrases

📧 I need to send this email before the meeting.
the email must go out first
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Necesito enviar este correo electrónico antes de la reunión.
🇫🇷 French: Je dois envoyer cet e-mail avant la réunion.
🇩🇪 German: Ich muss diese E-Mail vor dem Meeting senden.
🇮🇹 Italian: Devo inviare questa e-mail prima della riunione.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Preciso enviar este e-mail antes da reunião.
⏰ The deadline for finishing the project is Friday.
Friday is the last day to finish
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: La fecha límite para terminar el proyecto es el viernes.
🇫🇷 French: La date limite pour terminer le projet est vendredi.
🇩🇪 German: Die Frist für die Fertigstellung des Projekts ist Freitag.
🇮🇹 Italian: La scadenza per finire il progetto è venerdì.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O prazo para terminar o projeto é sexta-feira.
📊 I'm preparing a report for tomorrow's meeting.
you are writing the report now
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Estoy preparando un informe para la reunión de mañana.
🇫🇷 French: Je prépare un rapport pour la réunion de demain.
🇩🇪 German: Ich bereite einen Bericht für das Meeting von morgen vor.
🇮🇹 Italian: Sto preparando un report per la riunione di domani.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Estou preparando um relatório para a reunião de amanhã.
👥 My coworkers are helping me with the project.
your colleagues are working with you
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Mis compañeros de trabajo me están ayudando con el proyecto.
🇫🇷 French: Mes collègues m'aident avec le projet.
🇩🇪 German: Meine Kollegen helfen mir bei dem Projekt.
🇮🇹 Italian: I miei colleghi mi stanno aiutando con il progetto.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Os meus colegas de trabalho estão me ajudando com o projeto.

💬 Everyday Conversations

Talking about a meeting
checking the time and what to bring
A: What time is today's meeting?
B: It's at ten in the morning.
A: Do I have to prepare anything?
B: Yes, please bring the project report.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 A: ¿A qué hora es la reunión de hoy?
🇪🇸 B: Es a las diez de la mañana.
🇪🇸 A: ¿Tengo que preparar algo?
🇪🇸 B: Sí, por favor trae el informe del proyecto.

🇫🇷 A: À quelle heure est la réunion d'aujourd'hui ?
🇫🇷 B: Elle est à dix heures du matin.
🇫🇷 A: Est-ce que je dois préparer quelque chose ?
🇫🇷 B: Oui, apporte s'il te plaît le rapport du projet.

🇩🇪 A: Um wie viel Uhr ist das Meeting heute?
🇩🇪 B: Es ist um zehn Uhr morgens.
🇩🇪 A: Muss ich etwas vorbereiten?
🇩🇪 B: Ja, bring bitte den Projektbericht mit.

🇮🇹 A: A che ora è la riunione di oggi?
🇮🇹 B: È alle dieci di mattina.
🇮🇹 A: Devo preparare qualcosa?
🇮🇹 B: Sì, per favore porta il report del progetto.

🇵🇹 A: A que horas é a reunião de hoje?
🇵🇹 B: É às dez da manhã.
🇵🇹 A: Eu tenho que preparar alguma coisa?
🇵🇹 B: Sim, por favor traga o relatório do projeto.
Asking for help with a project
asking a coworker to review a document before you send it
A: Can you help me review this document?
B: Of course. When do you need it?
A: I have to send it before the end of the day.
B: Okay. I'll review it this afternoon.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 A: ¿Puedes ayudarme a revisar este documento?
🇪🇸 B: Claro. ¿Cuándo lo necesitas?
🇪🇸 A: Tengo que enviarlo antes del final del día.
🇪🇸 B: De acuerdo. Lo revisaré esta tarde.

🇫🇷 A: Peux-tu m'aider à revoir ce document ?
🇫🇷 B: Bien sûr. Quand en as-tu besoin ?
🇫🇷 A: Je dois l'envoyer avant la fin de la journée.
🇫🇷 B: D'accord. Je le relirai cet après-midi.

🇩🇪 A: Kannst du mir helfen, dieses Dokument zu überprüfen?
🇩🇪 B: Klar. Wann brauchst du es?
🇩🇪 A: Ich muss es vor Ende des Tages schicken.
🇩🇪 B: In Ordnung. Ich schaue es mir heute Nachmittag an.

🇮🇹 A: Puoi aiutarmi a rivedere questo documento?
🇮🇹 B: Certo. Quando ti serve?
🇮🇹 A: Devo inviarlo prima della fine della giornata.
🇮🇹 B: Va bene. Lo revisionerò questo pomeriggio.

🇵🇹 A: Você pode me ajudar a revisar este documento?
🇵🇹 B: Claro. Quando você precisa?
🇵🇹 A: Eu tenho que enviá-lo antes do final do dia.
🇵🇹 B: Tudo bem. Eu vou revisar esta tarde.

📝 Example Sentences

📅 This morning we had a meeting to discuss the goals of the new project.
the team talked about what the project should achieve
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Esta mañana tuvimos una reunión para hablar sobre los objetivos del nuevo proyecto.
🇫🇷 French: Ce matin nous avons eu une réunion pour discuter des objectifs du nouveau projet.
🇩🇪 German: Heute Morgen hatten wir ein Meeting, um die Ziele des neuen Projekts zu besprechen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Questa mattina abbiamo avuto una riunione per discutere gli obiettivi del nuovo progetto.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Esta manhã tivemos uma reunião para discutir os objetivos do novo projeto.
📧 I sent my boss an email with the documents they needed.
the files went to your boss by email
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Le envié un correo electrónico a mi jefe con los documentos que necesitaba.
🇫🇷 French: J'ai envoyé un e-mail à mon patron avec les documents dont il avait besoin.
🇩🇪 German: Ich habe meinem Chef eine E-Mail mit den Dokumenten geschickt, die er brauchte.
🇮🇹 Italian: Ho inviato un'e-mail al mio capo con i documenti di cui aveva bisogno.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Eu enviei um e-mail ao meu chefe com os documentos de que ele precisava.
⏰ We have to finish the report before Friday's deadline.
the report must be done by Friday
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Tenemos que terminar el informe antes de la fecha límite del viernes.
🇫🇷 French: Nous devons terminer le rapport avant la date limite de vendredi.
🇩🇪 German: Wir müssen den Bericht vor der Frist am Freitag fertigstellen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Dobbiamo finire il report prima della scadenza di venerdì.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Temos que terminar o relatório antes do prazo de sexta-feira.
👥 My coworkers and I are collaborating on an important project.
you and your colleagues are working together
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Mis compañeros de trabajo y yo estamos colaborando en un proyecto importante.
🇫🇷 French: Mes collègues et moi collaborons sur un projet important.
🇩🇪 German: Meine Kollegen und ich arbeiten gemeinsam an einem wichtigen Projekt.
🇮🇹 Italian: I miei colleghi e io stiamo collaborando a un progetto importante.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Os meus colegas de trabalho e eu estamos colaborando em um projeto importante.
📊 After reviewing the data, I prepared a report for the meeting.
you checked the numbers first, then wrote the report
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Después de revisar los datos, preparé un informe para la reunión.
🇫🇷 French: Après avoir examiné les données, j'ai préparé un rapport pour la réunion.
🇩🇪 German: Nach der Überprüfung der Daten habe ich einen Bericht für das Meeting vorbereitet.
🇮🇹 Italian: Dopo aver rivisto i dati, ho preparato un report per la riunione.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Depois de revisar os dados, preparei um relatório para a reunião.
💻 I work from home some days and go to the office the rest of the week.
some days remote, other days in the office
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Trabajo desde casa algunos días y voy a la oficina el resto de la semana.
🇫🇷 French: Je travaille de chez moi certains jours et je vais au bureau le reste de la semaine.
🇩🇪 German: Ich arbeite an manchen Tagen von zu Hause und gehe den Rest der Woche ins Büro.
🇮🇹 Italian: Lavoro da casa alcuni giorni e vado in ufficio il resto della settimana.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Eu trabalho de casa alguns dias e vou ao escritório no resto da semana.

🏆 Final Practice

English in the Real World:

Read the situation. Choose the best word or phrase from the lesson.
Question 1 of 8
✅ Correct: 0
❓ Questions: 0
🎯 Accuracy: 0%