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funcionar

to work

verb foonk-syoh-NAHR Less Common

Also means

to function

Usage Note

Funcionar means 'to work' in the sense of operating correctly — a machine, plan, or system. It is NOT used for a person working at a job (use trabajar). Signs reading no funciona ('out of order') are ubiquitous. The derived noun funcionario means 'civil servant', not merely 'someone who functions'.

Examples

"El ascensor no funciona hoy."

Natural Translation

The lift is not working today.

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