Portuguese · Real conversations
How to respond to “Com o que você trabalha?” in Portuguese
A work question can be answered with a role, current study, a job search, or a polite change of topic.
What you might hear
Com o que você trabalha?
What do you do for work?
Choose a reply that fits
Trabalho como professor / professora.
I work as a teacher.
Name a role without a long job description.
Sou estudante.
I'm a student.
Use when studying is your current activity.
Estou procurando emprego.
I'm looking for work.
Describe your current situation if you want to.
Prefiro não falar de trabalho agora.
I'd rather not discuss work right now.
Set a boundary without inventing a job.
Two short exchanges
Meeting a new person
Com o que você trabalha?
What do you do for work?
Trabalho como professor / professora.
I work as a teacher.
A casual work question
Que tipo de trabalho você faz?
What kind of work do you do?
Sou estudante.
I'm a student.
Your turn
Give a short honest answer about looking for work.
Reveal a sample reply
Estou procurando emprego.
I'm looking for work.
This response guide in other languages
A note on speaking Portuguese
These guides use Brazilian Portuguese. Você is a common everyday address; senhor or senhora may fit a more formal interaction. Eu gostaria and poderia can soften requests without making them complicated.
Keep the accents and nasal spellings, such as não and conexão. Portuguese in Portugal may use different everyday vocabulary or pronouns. The examples aim for broadly understandable Brazilian wording.
