funcionario
civil servant
noun foonk-syoh-NAH-ryoh Less Common
Origin: From Latin functio (performance of a duty).
Also means
official
Usage Note
Funcionario refers specifically to a permanent public-sector employee in Spain and Latin America — someone with guaranteed tenure (plaza fija), not a temporary contractor. The feminine is funcionaria. It is often used with a mildly critical tone in everyday speech, implying bureaucratic caution. Funcionario público emphasises the government connection; funcionario de prisiones is a prison officer.
Examples
"La funcionaria selló todos los documentos."
Natural Translation
The civil servant stamped all the documents.
Literal Translation
The female-official sealed all the documents
Related Words
Explore Spanish by topic
SpanishNow
6 min read