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How to Say "assigned" in Spanish

English → Spanish

asignado

ah-seen-YAH-dohasiɣˈnaðo

adjectiveA2general
Use 'asignado' when something has been officially given to a specific person or place, like a task, a seat, or a role.
A small wooden chair with a bright red name tag hanging from it in a tidy classroom.

Examples

Por favor, siéntate en tu lugar asignado.

Please, sit in your assigned spot.

Él es el profesor asignado para esta clase.

He is the teacher assigned for this class.

El presupuesto asignado al proyecto es muy pequeño.

The budget allocated to the project is very small.

Hemos asignado un nuevo líder al grupo.

We have assigned a new leader to the group.

Matching the word to the noun

Since this acts as a descriptor, it must match the thing it describes. Use 'asignado' for masculine items and 'asignada' for feminine items.

The 'Done' form

Asignado is the past participle. In Spanish, we use this form with the verb 'haber' to talk about things we 'have done'.

Forgot to change the ending

Mistake: “La tarea asignado.”

Correction: La tarea asignada. Because 'tarea' is feminine, you must change the 'o' to an 'a'.

asignado

verbB1general
Use 'asignado' as a past participle when referring to the action of having given out or allocated a task, responsibility, or resource.

Examples

Hemos asignado un nuevo líder al grupo.

We have assigned a new leader to the group.

destinado

dess-tee-NAH-dohdes.tiˈna.ðo

adjectiveB1general
Use 'destinado' when a place, object, or resource is intended or set aside for a particular purpose or use.
A transparent glass jar shaped like a large smiling cookie, clearly intended for holding baked goods, sitting on a wooden kitchen counter.

Examples

Esta sala está destinada a reuniones importantes.

This room is intended for important meetings.

La ayuda económica está destinada a las familias afectadas por la tormenta.

The economic aid is earmarked for the families affected by the storm.

Parece que estamos destinados a encontrarnos una y otra vez.

It seems we are destined to meet again and again.

Hemos destinado tres horas a revisar estos documentos.

We have assigned three hours to review these documents.

Agreement Rule

As an adjective, 'destinado' must change its ending to match the noun it describes in number (singular/plural) and gender (masculine/feminine): 'destinada', 'destinados', 'destinadas'.

Always Use 'a'

When saying what something is intended for, always use the preposition 'a' (to/for) right after 'destinado'.

Forming Perfect Tenses

The past participle 'destinado' is combined with the helping verb 'haber' (to have) to describe actions completed in the past: 'He destinado', 'Has destinado', etc.

Passive Voice

When used with the verb 'ser' (to be) to form the passive voice ('fue destinado'), it means the subject received the action of being assigned. In this case, it acts like an adjective and must agree in gender and number.

Forgetting Gender Agreement

Mistake: “La carta está destinado a ti.”

Correction: La carta está destinada a ti. (Since 'carta' is feminine, the adjective must be 'destinada'.)

destinado

past participleB2general
Use 'destinado' with 'haber' to indicate that a specific amount of time or resources has been allocated or dedicated to a particular activity.

Examples

Hemos destinado tres horas a revisar estos documentos.

We have assigned three hours to review these documents.

delegado

deh-leh-GAH-dohdeleˈɣaðo

adjectiveB2formal
Use 'delegado' when referring to power, authority, or specific duties that have been officially transferred or entrusted to someone else.
A person in a robe handing a glowing golden key to another person.

Examples

El director tiene un poder delegado por la junta.

The director has a power delegated by the board.

Este es un servicio delegado a una empresa externa.

This is a service assigned to an external company.

Ejercía sus funciones mediante un cargo delegado.

He exercised his functions through a delegated position.

The '-ed' connection

As an adjective, this word works like English words ending in '-ed'. It describes something that has received the action of being delegated.

Matching the noun

Mistake: “Las funciones delegado.”

Correction: Las funciones delegadas. Remember that when this word describes a noun, it must match in gender and number (delegado, delegada, delegados, delegadas).

Asignado vs. Destinado

The most common confusion is between 'asignado' and 'destinado'. 'Asignado' implies something is given or allocated to a person or place, while 'destinado' means something is intended or set aside for a purpose.

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