La jornada laboral empieza a las ocho.

In Spanish, it is very common to use the definite article (el, la, los, las) when talking about something in a general or known way.

So la jornada laboral means the working day / the workday.

Spanish often uses the article where English might not, or where English uses a more general expression. Here, la sounds natural and complete.

Jornada laboral is a common expression meaning working day, workday, or sometimes work shift, depending on context.

• jornada = day, shift, or period of work
• laboral = related to work or employment

So together, jornada laboral refers to the period of the day when someone works.

It is a little more formal or specific than just saying el trabajo.

In Spanish, adjectives usually come after the noun.

So:

• jornada = day / shift
• laboral = work-related

That is why Spanish says jornada laboral, literally something like day work-related.

This is normal Spanish word order.

Because the sentence needs a conjugated verb, not the infinitive.

• empezar = to start / to begin
• empieza = starts / begins

The subject is la jornada laboral, which is third person singular, so the verb must match it:

• La jornada laboral empieza... = The working day starts...

Because empezar is a stem-changing verb.

In the present tense, the e in the stem changes to ie in most forms:

• yo empiezo
• tú empiezas
• él/ella/usted empieza

So la jornada laboral empieza is the correct present-tense form.

Yes. Empieza and comienza both mean starts / begins.

So these are both correct:

• La jornada laboral empieza a las ocho.
• La jornada laboral comienza a las ocho.

Empezar is often a little more common in everyday speech, but both are natural.

In Spanish, the preposition a is used when giving a specific time:

• a las dos = at two
• a las ocho = at eight

So a here means at.

The word las is used with most clock times because Spanish treats the hour as feminine plural:

• a las tres
• a las seis
• a las ocho

Because una is singular.

So Spanish says:

• a la una = at one
• a las dos = at two
• a las ocho = at eight

This is a very common pattern with telling time.

Not always.

A las ocho simply means at eight. If the context already makes it clear whether it is morning or evening, Spanish often leaves it out.

If you want to be specific, you can say:

• a las ocho de la mañana = at eight in the morning
• a las ocho de la tarde = at eight in the evening
• a las ocho de la noche = at eight at night

In this sentence, because it is talking about the workday starting, people will usually understand it as morning.

Because jornada is a feminine noun in Spanish.

That is why it takes:

• la jornada
• la jornada laboral

The adjective laboral does not change here because it has the same form for masculine and feminine in the singular.

Compare:

• el horario laboral
• la jornada laboral

Yes, depending on context.

Jornada laboral can refer to:

• the working day in general
• someone’s work schedule
• a work shift or period of work

So the exact English translation may vary a little depending on the situation. But the basic idea is the same: work starts at eight.

You could, but it is not exactly the same.

• El trabajo empieza a las ocho = work starts at eight
• La jornada laboral empieza a las ocho = the working day / workday starts at eight

El trabajo is broader and can mean work in general.
La jornada laboral refers more specifically to the scheduled work period.

So the original sentence sounds more precise.

Yes. It is in the present tense:

• empieza = starts / begins

In Spanish, the present tense is often used for:

• facts
• routines
• schedules

So La jornada laboral empieza a las ocho can mean something like:

• The workday starts at eight
• The working day begins at eight
• The work shift starts at eight

It does not have to mean only right now.

A helpful approximation is:

em-PYE-tha in most of Spain

Notes for Spain Spanish:

• the ie sounds like ye
• the z in empieza is pronounced like the th in think in most of Spain
• the stress is on pie

So:

• empieza → em-PYE-tha

In many Latin American varieties, it would sound more like em-PYE-sa.