encargado
/en-car-GAH-doh/
manager
The manager is responsible for overseeing daily operations in their area.
encargado(noun)
manager
?as a job title, usually for a specific area
,person in charge
?general context
caretaker
?of a building or property
,supervisor
?in a retail setting
📝 In Action
El encargado del almacén revisó el inventario.
A2The warehouse manager checked the inventory.
¿Podría hablar con el encargado de servicio al cliente?
B1Could I speak with the person in charge of customer service?
Mi hermano es el encargado de mantenimiento de ese edificio.
B2My brother is the maintenance supervisor for that building.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Agreement
This word changes based on gender: 'el encargado' (male manager) and 'la encargada' (female manager).
⭐ Usage Tips
Asking for Help
Use 'el encargado' when you need to escalate a problem or ask for special permission in a store or business.
Being in charge means you are responsible for completing a specific duty.
encargado(adjective)
in charge
?responsible for a duty
,responsible
?having a specific task
commissioned
?officially assigned
📝 In Action
Él está encargado de organizar la fiesta de fin de año.
B1He is in charge of organizing the end-of-year party.
La secretaria está encargada de responder las llamadas.
B1The secretary is responsible for answering the calls.
Fuimos encargados de proteger la documentación secreta.
C1We were commissioned to protect the secret documentation.
💡 Grammar Points
Agreement with 'Ser' or 'Estar'
When used as an adjective, 'encargado' must agree in number and gender with the person or thing it describes (e.g., 'ellos están encargados', 'ella está encargada').
The Preposition 'De'
The phrase 'estar encargado' is always followed by the preposition 'de' (of/for) to introduce the task or item being managed.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Missing 'De'
Mistake: "Estoy encargado organizar la reunión."
Correction: Estoy encargado *de* organizar la reunión. (Always use 'de' after 'encargado' when introducing the duty.)
The valuable item was entrusted to the caretaker for safekeeping.
encargado(verb)
entrusted
?as the past participle of 'encargar'
,commissioned
?as the past participle of 'encargar'
📝 In Action
La misión ha sido encargada a un equipo especial.
B2The mission has been entrusted to a special team.
Una vez encargada la tarea, no hay vuelta atrás.
C1Once the task is commissioned, there is no turning back.
💡 Grammar Points
Spelling Change in the Verb Root
To keep the hard 'g' sound (like in 'go') throughout the conjugation, the 'g' changes to 'gu' before 'e' in tenses like the Preterite ('yo encargué') and the entire Present Subjunctive.
⭐ Usage Tips
Forming the Passive
'Encargado' is often used with 'ser' (to be) to form the passive voice, emphasizing that the action (of being entrusted) happened to the subject: 'La carta fue encargada' (The letter was commissioned).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: encargado
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'encargado' as a noun (a person's job title)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'encargado' and 'responsable'?
'Encargado' usually refers to someone who has a specific, assigned duty or a job title (like 'manager'). 'Responsable' is broader and means generally 'responsible' or 'reliable' in a moral or abstract sense, though they can often be used interchangeably when describing a duty.
How do I form the feminine version of 'encargado'?
Since 'encargado' ends in 'o', you simply change the 'o' to an 'a' to make it feminine: 'la encargada'.