An Easy Vocabulary Guide to Describe the Post Office in Spanish

El servicio postal, also called el correo or la oficina de correos, is the way you refer to the post office in Spanish. 

If you ever find yourself visiting or living in a Spanish-speaking country, learning to talk about the post office is essential. Even with all the technologic advances in electronic communication, the post office remains important and relevant!

The function of la oficina de correos is to send, receive, order, handle, transmit, and deliver mail (including packages) within a country or internationally. 

While mail may be slower than a text or an email, the postal service is the best way to send packages, letters, and important original-copy documents! 

In this blog post, learn all you need to know to discuss the post office in Spanish.

¡Empecemos! 

Let’s Talk About Letters in Spanish

Imagine you’re living in a Spanish-speaking country and you want to send your family and friends a letter detailing all your adventures and new life—or you’re ready to send off your collection of dedicated postcards and souvenirs. 

How would you do it? 

Las cartas (letters) are the most popular objects sent through the post offices. As one of the oldest forms of human communication, letters continue to hold value in connecting you to your friends, family, and even local businesses. 

Here is some Spanish vocabulary on some different types of letters:

Structure of a Letter in Spanish

Depending on your letter’s goal and its recipient, you will need to consider the following structural elements of a letter:

Labeling Your Envelope in Spanish

Now that you know the different types of cards that exist and their structure, learn to label your envelope before you send it through the post office!

Learn More: How to Write Your Address in Spanish

But, what if what you need to send doesn’t fit in an envelope? 

Items to Send Through the Mail in Spanish

We all know that letters aren’t the only items to go through the post office! 

At this point in history, you can order almost anything you can imagine to be delivered to your home through the mail. Here are a few options of items in Spanish that are sent through the mail:

The Post Office in Spanish

Let’s explore vocabulary about the post office as a physical space and the people who work there. 

Describe Your Local Post Office in Spanish

All post offices are different, even those that are in the same country! The following list of adjectives give you easy access to describe your local post office in Spanish.

Example Spanish Sentences

La oficina postal cerca de mi casa es lenta al hacer el envío.
The postal office near my house is slow to ship.

La oficina postal es muy limpia y eficiente.
The post office is really clean and efficient.

En el pueblo, hay una oficina postal pequeña.
In the town, there is a small postal office.

Spanish Vocabulary: Inside the Post Office

The post office is a unique place with specific items inside that you won’t find anywhere else. But, like any other government office, it has basic furniture items like desks and shelves.

Here are some more things you can find in a post office:

Now, who is in charge of moving all that stuff around and making the post office as reliable as it is? 

Post office workers!

Post Office Workers in Spanish

It’s not only el cartero (mailman) who makes everything run smoothly at the post office. Here is a list of post office workers in Spanish.

At this point, we’ve covered how to describe your post office, what’s inside it, and who works there.
But what else can we learn about the post office in Spanish?

Some other important actions we can take while there!

What to Do at the Post Office in Spanish

Between sending and receiving a letter and a postcard or a package, there are plenty other actions that happen inside the post office. Here are some of them in Spanish:

You’ve got all you need to prepare or receive your mail. Let’s see some common Spanish phrases to boost your conversational skills to a whole other level.

Common Spanish Phrases to Use in the Post Office

You are almost ready to send your package, but you still have some questions about the shipping and prices. Here are some examples on how to express your concerns. 

Necesito enviar este paquete a Estados Unidos.
I need to send this package to the United States.

Necesito enviar esta carta a Estados Unidos.
I need to send this letter to the United States.

¿Qué precio tiene el envío?
What is the price of shipping?

¿Pueden pesar el paquete aquí?
Can you weigh the package here?

¿Cuál es el límite de peso por paquete?
What is the weight limit per package?

¿Qué precio necesito mi estampilla?
What price do I need for my stamp?

¿Hay que hacer una declaración de aduana?
Do I have to make a customs declaration?

¿Cuentan con envíos express?
Do you have express delivery?

¿Puedo enviar paquetes frágiles?
Can I send fragile packages?

¿En cuánto tiempo recibirá mi carta mi mamá? 
How long will it take for my mother to receive my letter?

Practice Your Order

¡Buenos días! Necesito enviar esta carta y este paquete a Estados Unidos. Me gustaría hacerlo por envío express, y con la advertencia de paquete frágil porque envío algunas galletas y dulces. ¿Es posible hacerlo? Además quisiera comprar unas cuantas estampillas y postales. Muchas gracias.

Good morning! I need to send this letter and this package to the United States. I would like to do it by express delivery, and with the warning of fragile packages because I am sending some cookies and candies. Is it possible to do it? Also, I would like to buy a few stamps and postcards. Thank you very much.  

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Carmen Rizzo

Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy

I’m a native Spanish speaker from Guatemala with a B.A. in Psychology. I have a passion for teaching Sunday school in my spare time and for learning and sharing valuable information. I'm a cat lover who gets excited over cartoons, anime, and video games. I dabble in digital illustration and animation. I'm inspired by sharing my culture, traditions, food, and beliefs with others, while learning about theirs in return.

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