Quick answer
Trabalho is work in a broad sense. Emprego is a job position.
A reliable test is to identify the job of the word before translating from English.
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What each word does
trabalho
work
Use trabalho for work as activity, effort, a project, or a workplace.
emprego
job
Use emprego for a paid position or job you hold or look for.
How to choose
- trabalho: Choose trabalho if the sentence points to work as activity, effort, a project, or a workplace.
- emprego: Choose emprego if the sentence points to a paid position or job you hold or look for.
Examples
Tenho muito trabalho hoje.
I have a lot of work today.
Ela conseguiu um emprego novo.
She got a new job.
Common trap
If you mean tasks or effort, say trabalho. If you mean employment, say emprego.
Practice it in context
Pick one sentence from your real life and write it twice: once with trabalho, then once with emprego. If both versions feel possible, name the meaning shift.
Learn Brazilian Portuguese step by step
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