responsable

/reh-spon-SAH-bleh/

responsible

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

Being responsable (responsible) means handling your duties and obligations with care.

responsable(adjective)

m/fA1

responsible

having duties or obligations

accountable

expected to explain decisions

Also:

sensible

showing good judgment (less common than 'sensato')

📝 In Action

Mi hermana es muy responsable con su trabajo.

My sister is very responsible with her job.

Necesitamos un líder que sea responsable de las finanzas.

We need a leader who is accountable for the finances.

Él no fue responsable del accidente, solo estaba allí.

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

💡 Grammar Points

Gender Doesn't Change

Since 'responsable' ends in -e, it is used for both men and women. You only need to make it plural: 'El chico responsable,' 'La chica responsable,' 'Los chicos responsables.'

Use with SER

Always use the verb 'ser' (to be) when talking about responsibility as a permanent characteristic or a fixed role: 'Ella es responsable' (She is a responsible person).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Adding an 'a' for female

Mistake: "Mi jefa es responsabilA."

Correction: Mi jefa es responsable. (Do not change the ending 'e' to 'a' based on gender.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Linking Responsibility

To specify what someone is responsible for, always use the preposition 'de': 'Soy responsable de este proyecto' (I am responsible for this project).

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.

The responsable (person in charge) supervises the work and ensures the task is completed correctly.

responsable(noun)

m/fB1

person in charge

manager or supervisor

responsible party

the individual or group accountable

Also:

manager

often used in job titles

culprit

the person who caused the negative outcome

📝 In Action

Necesitas hablar con el responsable del departamento de ventas.

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

La policía busca al responsable de los daños.

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

Ella es la responsable de abrir y cerrar la tienda.

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

Word Connections

Synonyms

jefe (boss)
encargado (person in charge)

Common Collocations

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

💡 Grammar Points

Gender and Articles

When used as a noun (meaning 'the person'), the article must match the gender: use 'el' for men and 'la' for women. The word 'responsable' itself does not change.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the wrong article

Mistake: "La responsable dijo que tenía que esperar, pero es un hombre."

Correction: El responsable dijo que tenía que esperar. (If the person is male, use 'el,' even though 'responsable' ends in 'e.')

⭐ Usage Tips

Formal Contexts

Using 'el/la responsable' is a professional way to ask for the manager or supervisor without using a specific title.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: responsable

Question 1 of 2

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

📚 More Resources

Word Family

responsabilidad(responsibility) - noun

responder(to answer/respond) - verb

irresponsable(irresponsible) - adjective

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).