Job vs. Work in Portuguese: Emprego, Trabalho, and Trabalhar
These related Portuguese words overlap, but emprego usually means a position and trabalho can name work, a task, or a workplace.
Real Life Portuguese · 4 min read · Updated October 15, 2026
The short answer
Emprego usually refers to paid employment or a particular job. It is a masculine noun: o emprego. To say that you are looking for a job, use procurar emprego.
Use emprego for a job or position
Ela conseguiu um emprego novo.
She got a new job.
Estou procurando emprego em São Paulo.
I’m looking for a job in São Paulo.
Use trabalho for work or a task
Trabalho can refer to work in general, an assignment, or—in context—the workplace. It is also the first-person present form of trabalhar, so sentence structure helps identify its role.
Tenho muito trabalho esta semana.
I have a lot of work this week.
Terminei o trabalho da faculdade.
I finished the college assignment.
Use trabalhar for the action
Trabalhar is the verb ‘to work.’ Use it for a profession, location, or schedule; the preposition depends on what follows.
Trabalho em uma escola perto de casa.
I work at a school near home.
Ele trabalha como designer.
He works as a designer.
Put it into practice
Choose emprego for a job position, trabalho for work or a task, and trabalhar for the verb.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “He works as a designer”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
Build on this guide with everyday expressions and native Brazilian audio. Choose iPhone, Android, or the web app.