mundane work

[mun-DAYN wurk]
noun phrasepl: mundane works
trabalho mundano
1. routine, ordinary, or tedious work lacking excitement, creativity, or interest
Filing documents all day is mundane work that requires little mental effort.
Arquivar documentos o dia todo é um trabalho mundano que requer pouco esforço mental.
2. everyday tasks or labor that are repetitive and unengaging
She found the mundane work of data entry to be draining.
Ela achou o trabalho mundano de entrada de dados muito cansativo.
In both Brazilian and American contexts, 'mundane work' often carries a negative connotation, suggesting dissatisfaction or lack of fulfillment. Brazilians frequently discuss the desire to escape such work for more meaningful pursuits, while in American culture it's often referenced in the context of side hustles or career aspirations to move beyond monotonous employment.
NYC Slang
grind work; day job; soul-crushing work
Synonyms / Sinônimos
routine worktedious workordinary workrepetitive workhumdrum workdull work
Antonyms / Antônimos
creative workstimulating workengaging workchallenging workexciting work

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
trabalho mundano
Most common and understood across Brazil
General Brazilian Portuguese (alternative)
trabalho monótono
Emphasizes repetitive nature
General Brazilian Portuguese (colloquial)
trabalho chato
More informal, means 'annoying/boring work'
Portugal
trabalho mundano
Same as Brazilian Portuguese; 'trabalho aborrecido' also used

Related Words

mundanemonotonoustediousroutinedrudgerychoretasklabor

Related Idioms & Phrases

the daily grind
grunt work
nine-to-five job
work that puts you to sleep
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →