Inklingo

incumbir

een-koom-BEER/inkumˈbiɾ/

incumbir means to concern in Spanish (referring to whose business something is).

to concern, to be someone's responsibility

Also: to pertain to
VerbB2regular irformal
A gardener pointing to their own watering can while another person watches, showing it is their responsibility.
gerundincumbiendo
past Participleincumbido
infinitiveincumbir

📝 In Action

Eso no te incumbe a ti.

B1

That doesn't concern you / That's none of your business.

Incumbe al director tomar la decisión final.

B2

It is the director's responsibility to make the final decision.

Esta es una tarea que nos incumbe a todos los ciudadanos.

C1

This is a task that concerns all of us as citizens.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • atañer (to relate to / concern)
  • competer (to be one's duty)
  • corresponder (to fall to someone (as a duty))

Antonyms

  • ajenar (to alienate / make foreign)
  • desentenderse (to ignore / wash one's hands of)

Common Collocations

  • por lo que a mí me incumbeas far as I am concerned
  • no le incumbeit is none of his/her business
  • incumbir directamenteto concern directly

Idioms & Expressions

  • meterse en lo que no le incumbeto poke one's nose into other people's business

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesincumbieran
yoincumbiera
incumbieras
vosotrosincumbierais
nosotrosincumbiéramos
él/ella/ustedincumbiera

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesincumban
yoincumba
incumbas
vosotrosincumbáis
nosotrosincumbamos
él/ella/ustedincumba

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesincumbieron
yoincumbí
incumbiste
vosotrosincumbisteis
nosotrosincumbimos
él/ella/ustedincumbió

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesincumbían
yoincumbía
incumbías
vosotrosincumbíais
nosotrosincumbíamos
él/ella/ustedincumbía

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesincumben
yoincumbo
incumbes
vosotrosincumbís
nosotrosincumbimos
él/ella/ustedincumbe

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "incumbir" in Spanish:

to concern

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: incumbir

Question 1 of 3

How would you say 'That is none of your business' using incumbir?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology

From the Latin 'incumbere', which literally means 'to lean upon' or 'to apply oneself to something.' Over time, it shifted from physically leaning on something to having a duty or business 'resting' on you.

First recorded: 16th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: incumbentFrench: incomber

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'incumbir' used a lot in daily life?

Not really. It's quite formal. In daily life, people usually say 'No es asunto tuyo' or 'Eso no te importa' instead of 'Eso no te incumbe'.

Is it always used in the 3rd person?

Technically no, but in practice, yes. You will almost always see it as 'incumbe' (it concerns) or 'incumben' (they concern).

Does it have any connection to the English word 'incumbent'?

Yes! They share the same Latin root. An 'incumbent' politician is the one currently 'leaning on' or holding the office/responsibility.