Jubilarse vs. retirarse
The Spanish language has multiple words for similar concepts with minor nuances differentiating their usage. 'Jubilarse' and 'retirarse' are such examples, both of which mean 'to retire' in English. However, there are slight differences in their contextual use.
Jubilarse
'Jubilarse' comes from the word 'jubilation' and is most commonly used to refer to retiring from work due to age after many years of service, usually indicating the official retirement age and typically implying a sense of completion and fulfillment.
Mi abuelo decidió jubilarse después de 40 años en la misma empresa.
(My grandfather decided to retire after 40 years at the same company.)
Espero jubilarme pronto y disfrutar de mi tiempo libre.
(I hope to retire soon and enjoy my free time.)
Retirarse
'Retirarse' directly translates to 'to withdraw', often used in the sense of retiring from work regardless of the reason or age. This can imply retirement due to factors other than age such as health, career change or personal reasons and doesn't necessarily imply fulfillment or completion of service. It can also be used more broadly outside of the work context, such as withdrawing from a competition or event.
El doctor se retirará del hospital por motivos de salud.
(The doctor will retire from the hospital for health reasons.)
El corredor decidió retirarse de la carrera debido a una lesión.
(The runner decided to retire from the race due to an injury.)
Estoy considerando la posibilidad de retirarme y viajar por el mundo.
(I am considering retiring and traveling the world.)
Summary
In conclusion, while both 'jubilarse' and 'retirarse' mean 'to retire', 'jubilarse' is often used to indicate retirement due to age and suggests a sense of fulfillment or completion in one's career whereas 'retirarse' can be due to any reason including age but also health concerns, career changes, or other personal reasons and is also used outside the work context to indicate withdrawal from an event or competition.