When learning a new language, mastering the vocabulary for professional settings is often a top priority. If you are preparing for a job hunt in Madrid, a journalism assignment in Mexico City, or simply trying to understand a Spanish-language news broadcast, knowing how to say interview in Spanish is fundamental. Day to day, the answer isn't a single word; context dictates whether you use entrevista, entrevistar, or a specific compound noun like entrevista de trabajo. This guide breaks down every nuance, conjugation, and cultural context you need to work through interviews fluently in the Spanish-speaking world The details matter here. And it works..
The Core Vocabulary: Nouns and Verbs
At the heart of this topic are two essential words: the noun la entrevista and the verb entrevistar. Understanding their grammar is the first step to using them correctly.
La Entrevista (The Noun)
La entrevista is a feminine noun (la), so adjectives and articles must agree in gender and number.
- Singular: La entrevista (The interview)
- Plural: Las entrevistas (The interviews)
- Indefinite: Una entrevista (An interview)
Common Collocations:
- Tener una entrevista – To have an interview.
- Conseguir una entrevista – To land/get an interview.
- Cancelar una entrevista – To cancel an interview.
- Preparar la entrevista – To prepare for the interview.
Entrevistar (The Verb)
Entrevistar is a regular -ar verb. It means "to interview." Because it is a transitive verb, it requires a direct object (the person being interviewed). When the object is a person, Spanish requires the "personal a."
- Yo entrevisto al candidato. (I interview the candidate.)
- La periodista va a entrevistar al presidente. (The journalist is going to interview the president.)
Reflexive Form: Entrevistarse To say "to interview with someone" or "to have an interview," Spanish uses the reflexive verb entrevistarse con.
- Me entrevisté con el gerente ayer. (I interviewed with the manager yesterday.)
- Nos entrevistamos con tres candidatos. (We interviewed three candidates / We had interviews with three candidates.)
Context is King: Types of Interviews
In English, "interview" covers a job screening, a police interrogation, a celebrity chat, and a college admission meeting. Still, spanish distinguishes these more explicitly. Using the right compound noun signals cultural fluency And it works..
1. La Entrevista de Trabajo (Job Interview)
This is the most common context for learners. It specifically refers to the hiring process.
- Mañana tengo una entrevista de trabajo muy importante. (Tomorrow I have a very important job interview.)
- ¿Cómo te fue en la entrevista de trabajo? (How did the job interview go?)
Related HR Vocabulary:
- El currículum / El CV – Resume / CV.
- La carta de presentación – Cover letter.
- El reclutador / La reclutadora – Recruiter.
- El puesto / La vacante – The position / The vacancy.
- El salario / El sueldo – Salary / Wage.
- Contratar – To hire.
2. La Entrevista Periodística (Journalistic/Media Interview)
Used for TV, radio, podcasts, or print media.
- El actor dio una entrevista exclusiva a la revista. (The actor gave an exclusive interview to the magazine.)
- La entrevista en directo fue tensa. (The live interview was tense.)
3. La Entrevista Clínica / Médica (Clinical/Medical Interview)
The structured conversation between a healthcare professional and a patient.
- El doctor realizó la entrevista clínica inicial. (The doctor conducted the initial clinical interview.)
4. La Entrevista Policial / De Investigación (Police/Investigative Interview)
While interrogatorio implies a harsher "interrogation," entrevista policial is the standard term for a formal questioning Turns out it matters..
- La policía citó al testigo para una entrevista.
5. La Entrevista de Admisión / Académica (Admissions/Academic Interview)
Common for university entrance or visa applications.
- Mi entrevista de admisión para la universidad es el viernes. (My university admissions interview is Friday.)
Essential Phrases for the Job Interview Scenario
Since the job interview is the highest-stakes scenario for most learners, here are high-value phrases categorized by the phase of the interview.
Before & Greetings
- Buenos días, vengo a la entrevista con [Nombre]. (Good morning, I’m here for the interview with [Name].)
- Tengo cita a las diez. (I have an appointment at ten.)
- Mucho gusto, soy [Tu Nombre]. (Nice to meet you, I am [Your Name].)
Discussing Experience & Skills
- Tengo [número] años de experiencia en [sector]. (I have [number] years of experience in [sector].)
- Mi punto fuerte es [habilidad]. (My strong suit is [skill].)
- He trabajado en proyectos similares. (I have worked on similar projects.)
- Me considero una persona proactiva / resolutiva / organizada. (I consider myself a proactive / problem-solving / organized person.)
The "Weakness" Question (La pregunta trampa)
- Mi mayor debilidad es [debilidad], pero estoy mejorando al [acción correctiva]. (My biggest weakness is [weakness], but I am improving by [corrective action].)
Asking Your Own Questions (Preguntar al final)
- ¿Cuáles son los próximos pasos en el proceso? (What are the next steps in the process?)
- ¿Cómo describiría la cultura de la empresa? (How would you describe the company culture?)
- ¿Qué oportunidades de crecimiento hay? (What growth opportunities exist?)
Closing
- Gracias por su tiempo y la oportunidad. (Thank you for your time and the opportunity.)
- Quedo a la espera de sus noticias. (I look forward to hearing from you.)
Grammar Deep Dive: Prepositions Matter
One of the most frequent errors English speakers make is translating prepositions literally. In English, you interview for a job with a company. In Spanish, the prepositions shift Nothing fancy..
Entrevistarse CON (Person/Entity)
Use con when referring to the person or group you are meeting.
- Me voy a entrevistar con el director de RR.HH. (I am going to interview with the HR director.)
Entrevista PARA (Purpose/Role)
Use para to indicate the position you are applying for Simple, but easy to overlook..
- Tengo una entrevista para el puesto de desarrollador. (I have an interview for the developer position.)
Entrevista EN / DE (Company/Type)
- La entrevista en Google fue difícil. (The interview at Google was hard.) — Location/Company context.
- Una entrevista de trabajo. (A job interview.) — Type/Category.
Conjugation Cheat Sheet: Entrevistar & Entrevistarse
Because interviews happen in the past, present, and future, you need these forms ready for instant recall.
| Tense | Entrevistar (To interview someone) | Entrevistarse (To have an interview / Interview with) | | :--- | :--- | :
