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How to Say "assignment" in Spanish

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tarea

/tah-REH-ah//taˈɾea/

nounA1general
Use 'tarea' when referring to schoolwork or homework assigned to students.
A young student sitting at a wooden desk with an open textbook and notebook, holding a pencil, focused on completing their school assignment.

Examples

¿Hiciste la tarea de matemáticas?

Did you do the math homework?

La profesora nos dio mucha tarea para el fin de semana.

The teacher gave us a lot of homework for the weekend.

Gender Check

Remember 'tarea' is feminine, so you must use 'la tarea' (the homework) and not 'el tarea'.

Confusing Tarea and Trabajo

Mistake: “Usando 'Mi trabajo es difícil' cuando se refiere a la tarea escolar.”

Correction: Use 'Mi tarea es difícil' when talking about school assignments. 'Trabajo' usually means paid employment or a large project.

encargo

en-CAR-go/enˈkaɾ.ɣo/

nounB1general
Choose 'encargo' for a specific task, duty, or commission given to someone in a professional or personal context.
A cheerful rabbit hands a rolled-up blueprint tied with a red ribbon to a smiling fox, symbolizing the transfer of an assignment or duty.

Examples

Mi jefe me dio el encargo de organizar la reunión.

My boss gave me the assignment of organizing the meeting.

¿Puedes hacer un encargo por mí? Necesito ir al banco.

Can you run an errand for me? I need to go to the bank.

El pintor terminó el encargo de la familia real.

The painter finished the commission for the royal family.

Masculine Noun Rule

Since 'encargo' ends in -o, it is a masculine noun. Always use the masculine article 'el' or 'un' with it.

Confusing 'encargo' and 'cargo'

Mistake: “Using 'cargo' (position/job title) when you mean 'encargo' (specific task).”

Correction: If you are talking about a specific duty or task, use 'encargo'. If you are talking about a permanent job title (like 'manager'), use 'cargo'.

transferencia

/trans-feh-REN-see-ah//tɾansfeˈɾensja/

nounB2formal, technical
Use 'transferencia' when referring to the formal transfer of rights, responsibilities, or ownership, often in a legal or technical sense.
A storybook illustration showing a bright red box floating or being carried across a short gap from a green platform onto a blue platform, illustrating the concept of physical transfer.

Examples

La transferencia de datos al nuevo servidor fue exitosa.

The data transfer to the new server was successful.

Solicitó la transferencia a otra sucursal de la empresa.

She requested the transfer to another branch of the company.

La transferencia de propiedad del coche requiere mucho papeleo.

The transfer of car ownership requires a lot of paperwork.

Prepositions with Movement

When talking about physical movement, you usually use the preposition 'a' (to) or 'de' (from): 'transferencia de personal a otra ciudad' (transfer of personnel to another city).

Homework vs. Task

The most common mistake is using 'tarea' for general tasks or duties. Remember, 'tarea' is primarily for schoolwork. For any other type of assigned work or duty, 'encargo' is usually the correct choice.

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