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responsable

reh-spon-SAH-bleh/res.ponˈsa.βle/

“responsable” means “responsible” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

responsible, accountable

Also: sensible
A young girl in a yellow apron carefully waters a small potted plant, demonstrating responsibility for a chore.

📝 In Action

Mi hermana es muy responsable con su trabajo.

A1

My sister is very responsible with her job.

Necesitamos un líder que sea responsable de las finanzas.

A2

We need a leader who is accountable for the finances.

Él no fue responsable del accidente, solo estaba allí.

A2

He was not responsible for the accident; he was just there.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • cumplidor (dutiful)
  • diligente (diligent)

Antonyms

  • irresponsable (irresponsible)
  • descuidado (careless)

Common Collocations

  • ser responsable de – to be responsible for
  • persona responsable – responsible person

person in charge, responsible party

Also: manager, culprit
Nounm/fB1
An adult wearing a red vest stands on a small step, overseeing two other people who are busy stacking wooden blocks in a collaborative environment.

📝 In Action

Necesitas hablar con el responsable del departamento de ventas.

B1

You need to speak with the person in charge of the sales department.

La policía busca al responsable de los daños.

B2

The police are looking for the responsible party (or: the culprit) for the damages.

Ella es la responsable de abrir y cerrar la tienda.

A2

She is the one responsible for opening and closing the store.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • el responsable directo – the direct person in charge
  • hacerse responsable – to take responsibility

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: responsable

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'responsable' when referring to a woman?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

The word comes from the Latin verb 'respondere' (meaning 'to answer' or 'to pledge') combined with the suffix '-bilis' (meaning 'able'). So, the core meaning is 'able to answer for their actions.'

First recorded: 15th century (as 'responsable' in legal French, later adopted into Spanish)

Cognates (Related words)

English: responsibleFrench: responsable

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'responsable' change form depending on whether the person is male or female?

No. Because it ends in 'e,' the word 'responsable' itself stays the same for both genders. The only thing that changes is the article you put in front of it when using it as a noun: 'el responsable' (male) or 'la responsable' (female).