Why Funcionar Is More Than "To Work"
Funcionar is the verb of machines, methods, and plans that work. English uses "work" for people and things alike, but Spanish keeps trabajar for people and uses funcionar for everything else. With an indirect pronoun it says whether something works for you.
Learn these six patterns as whole chunks and you will report problems, explain things, and judge plans without translating word by word.
Pattern 1: No funciona — "It doesn't work"
The complaint you will need at a hotel, a repair shop, or on a call. Name the thing first and add no funciona, or say what is wrong with no me funciona to include yourself. For another way to report a stuck thing, see [Abrir] Chunks.
- El wifi no funciona. — The wifi doesn't work.
- No me funciona el móvil. — My phone isn't working.
- La tarjeta no funciona. — The card doesn't work.
Chunk to learn:
[Thing] no funciona / No me funciona + [thing]
Pattern 2: ¿Cómo funciona? — "How does it work?"
Ask for an explanation of a machine, an app, or a system. It works in shops, offices, and classes, and it is the polite way to ask for instructions.
- ¿Cómo funciona esto? — How does this work?
- ¿Cómo funciona la lavadora? — How does the washing machine work?
- No sé cómo funciona el sistema. — I don't know how the system works.
Chunk to learn:
¿Cómo funciona + [thing]? / No sé cómo funciona
Pattern 3: Me funciona — "It works for me"
The indirect pronoun makes this personal: a method, a schedule, or a tip works for you or not. It is a natural way to react to advice. For more with me, see Object Pronouns Chunks.
- Este método me funciona muy bien. — This method works really well for me.
- A mí no me funciona estudiar de noche. — Studying at night doesn't work for me.
- Si te funciona, sigue así. — If it works for you, keep it up.
Chunk to learn:
Me funciona (bien) / No me funciona + [thing / infinitive]
Pattern 4: Funciona con… — "It runs on…"
Use con for the power source or the compatible system. Some speakers also say a pilas for "battery-powered". It is the chunk for gadgets, apps, and appliances.
- Funciona con pilas. — It runs on batteries.
- Esta app funciona con cualquier móvil. — This app works with any phone.
- El coche funciona con gasolina. — The car runs on gasoline.
Chunk to learn:
Funciona con + [pilas / electricidad / any phone]
Pattern 5: Funcionar como un reloj — "To work like clockwork"
A compliment for a system that never fails. The Spanish idiom compares it to a watch, and it fits machines, plans, and people's routines. Add de maravilla for the more casual "wonderfully".
- Todo funciona como un reloj. — Everything runs like clockwork.
- El plan funcionó de maravilla. — The plan worked wonderfully.
- La oficina funciona como un reloj. — The office runs like clockwork.
Chunk to learn:
Funcionar como un reloj / Funcionar de maravilla
Pattern 6: A ver si funciona — "Let's see if it works"
The chunk of hope and of verdicts. Use it before trying something, and use the preterite no funcionó after a plan fails, including relationships. For the difference between tenses, see Preterite vs. Imperfect Chunks.
- A ver si funciona. — Let's see if it works.
- Lo intentamos, pero no funcionó. — We tried, but it didn't work.
- Lo nuestro no funcionó. — Things didn't work out between us.
Chunk to learn:
A ver si funciona / No funcionó
Funcionar vs. Trabajar
Trabajar is for people and animals: Trabajo en una oficina. Funcionar is for machines, methods, and plans: La máquina funciona. English "my computer works" must become mi computadora funciona, never trabaja. For another verb of trying things, see [Intentar] Chunks.
Start with no funciona and ¿cómo funciona?. You will use both the next time you speak Spanish.
This post is part of the Spanish Chunk Series — a growing collection of chunk patterns for natural Spanish.