SpeeekDownload on the App Store
Back to At Work

Spanish Phrase

Tengo que trabajar desde casa.

/ˈteŋ.go ke tɾa.βaˈxaɾ ˈðes.de ˈka.sa/
Meaning"I have to work from home."
💡

Meaning

Literally “I have to work from home.” The sentence conveys an obligation to perform one’s job remotely, whether for a day, a period, or permanently. It can be used to explain a work arrangement or to answer a question about where you’ll be working.

🎯

When to use

Use this phrase when you need to tell someone where you’ll be working, when you’re discussing remote‑work policies, or when you’re explaining why you won’t be in the office.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Tengoquetrabajardesdecasa

1

Tengo (tener)

First‑person singular present of tener, used here to express obligation when followed by que + infinitive.

2

que (obligation connector)

A conjunction that links tener with an infinitive, equivalent to “have to”.

3

trabajar (infinitive)

The infinitive form of the verb “to work”. After que it keeps its infinitive shape.

4

desde (preposition)

Means “from” and indicates the starting point of an action; with casa it signals the location of work.

5

casa (noun)

Literally “house”, but in this context it means “home” or “the place where you live”.

🗨In Conversation

A

¿Dónde vas a trabajar hoy?

Where are you going to work today?

Tengo que trabajar desde casa.

I have to work from home.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Tengo que trabajar en casa.

    “En” means “in/at” and does not convey the idea of starting the work from a location; use “desde”.

  • Tengo que trabajar a casa.

    “A” is used for direction, not for the origin of an activity.

  • Tengo que trabajar desde el casa.

    The article is unnecessary before “casa” in this expression.

↔Alternatives

  • Debo trabajar desde casa.

    I must work from home.

  • Voy a trabajar desde casa.

    I’m going to work from home.

  • Tengo que hacer mi trabajo en casa.

    I have to do my work at home.

es

Cultural Tip

Since the pandemic, “trabajar desde casa” has become a common, neutral way to talk about remote work across Spanish‑speaking countries. In more formal contexts you might hear “trabajar desde el hogar”. Remember that “tener que” expresses a practical obligation, while “deber” sounds a bit stronger or more moral.