Portuguese · People & Family

"Employee" in Portuguese: funcionário / funcionária

o funcionário / a funcionária

Say it: foong-see-oh-NAH-ree-oomasculine / feminine · o funcionário / a funcionárianoun/fun.sio.ˈna.ɾiu/

Employee in Portuguese is o funcionário or a funcionária. Say Falo com um funcionário and Ela é funcionária nova. Colaborador/a is a softer workplace synonym.

Store help

Um funcionário me acompanhou até a seção de cabos.
An employee walked me to the cable aisle.
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How to pronounce funcionário / funcionária

Say it

foong-see-oh-NAH-ree-oo

/fun.sio.ˈna.ɾiu/

o foong-see-oh-NAH-ree-oo / a foong-see-oh-NAH-ree-ah

"Employee" in Portuguese: quick reference

PortugueseEnglish
o funcionárioemployee (m.)

Masculine.

a funcionáriaemployee (f.)

Feminine.

funcionário públicopublic employee

Government.

colaborador/ateam member / employee

HR tone.

How to use funcionário / funcionária in real life

  1. 1Store help

    Um funcionário me acompanhou até a seção de cabos.

    An employee walked me to the cable aisle.

    Service.

  2. 2HR intro

    A funcionária nova começa na segunda.

    The new employee starts on Monday.

    Feminine form.

  3. 3Bank

    Perguntei a um funcionário sobre o horário estendido.

    I asked an employee about extended hours.

    Front desk.

Mistakes English speakers make with funcionário / funcionária

Incorrect: Ela é um funcionário.

Correct: Ela é funcionária.

Use funcionária for a woman.

Incorrect: Ele é employee.

Correct: Ele é funcionário.

Use funcionário/funcionária.

Good to know

Funcionário/a is clear in shops, banks, and offices. Larger companies often say colaborador/a in internal speak. For “staff,” you may hear os funcionários as a group.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Returning an item

  1. ChatPal

    Tem um funcionário no caixa de trocas?

    Is there an employee at the returns desk?

  2. You

    Sim a funcionária de blusa azul.

    Yes — the employee in the blue blouse.

  3. ChatPal

    Vou falar com o funcionário ao lado também.

    I’ll also talk to the employee next to her.

  4. You

    Beleza. Levo a nota.

    Okay. I’ll bring the receipt.

This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.

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"Employee" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Employee" in Portuguese

Employee (man)?

O funcionário.

Employee (woman)?

A funcionária.

Public employee?

Funcionário público.

Softer HR word?

Colaborador/a.

Learn a word, then use it out loud

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  2. Step 2: Say it out loud
  3. Step 3: Get feedback
  4. Step 4: Use it in real scenarios

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