Work, not in the sense of labor

Question

In English we use work to mean more than just labor. I am not sure if you can use trabajar in the same way. I didn't find a clear answer when I looked it up in the dictionary. Can anyone please help me to better understand how to express the following in spanish? ¡Muchas gracias!

My watch is not working.

Mi reloj no funciona. ???

Works like a charm.

Funciona como un encanto. ???

I think the medicine is working. I feel better now.

Creo que la medicina hace efecto. Ya me siento mejor. ???

In the end, I hope it will all work out.

Al fin, Espero que todo esté bien. ???

and to quote Dr. Phil "How's that working for you?"

I have no idea how to say this one.

You are a busy little bee, don't you have any work to do? - LateToDinner, Aug 12, 2010

zzzzzzumbo aquí y zzzzzzzumbo allí, zzzzzzzumbido, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzumbido por todos los ladoszzzzzzzzzzzzzz. - sagiia, Aug 12, 2010

Answer 1

Congratulations on trying to translate these phrases on your own/ without help

We wish more people would attempt this

Your example using funciona for the watch is good and correct

Mi reloj no funciona or mi reloj no está funcionando My watch isn't working

Ah, I understand... You mean, Funcionar = to work as in performing, functioning, working correctly or accurately

por ejemplo: 1 el ascensor no funciona = The lift isn't working

2 Mi reloj no está funcionando ahora = My watch isn't working, now

For the expression to work out well (badly) you could use the verbs:

resultar bien o salir bien (mal)

To work at: tiene que practicar (Source: Spanish Oxford Dictionary including example) vi

por ejemplo You whave to work at your service = Tienes que practicar el servicio

I hope that this helps

So, I could say, "Al final, espero que todo salga bien." ??? - sagiia, Aug 12, 2010

Yes, I believe that would be correct if by that you mean Finally, I hope that everything works out well (...para ti)/Ud :) - FELIZ77, Aug 12, 2010

(For you (fam /formal) - FELIZ77, Aug 12, 2010

Gracias! - sagiia, Aug 12, 2010

Answer 2

My watch is not working. Mi reloj no funciona

Pefecto.

Creo que la medicina hace efecto. Ya me siento mejor. ???

I think I'd say "tiene efecto"

In the end, I hope it will all work out.

Al final, espero que todo esté bien.

Dr. Phil "How's that working for you?"

¿Y cómo te va eso?

On Dr. Phil's one, I'd say: "¿Cómo te va con eso?", or "¿Qué tal te ha funcionado eso?" - Gekkosan, Aug 12, 2010

¡Muchas gracias! Does "funciona como un encanto" sirve bien para "works like a charm"? - sagiia, Aug 12, 2010

And does sirve bien give the same meaning as work in my last comment? - sagiia, Aug 12, 2010

Answer 3

Yeah, from your examples, it seems that Spanish finds a different way of dealing with those situations when English uses the word "work." I'm no native speaker, by any means, so please someone correct me, but it seems to me that most of your examples are right, as far as expressing exactly what you wanted to, the simplest way the Spanish can.

Thanks for posting this question, too. It is a nice reminder to think outside of English box.

As for your last example, I tried to come up with something, but couldn't. I'll be interested to see if anyone else can tell you something good for that