Inklingo

How to Say "chore" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “chore” is “tarea” — use 'tarea' for a specific, often assigned, household duty or a school assignment that needs to be completed.

tarea🔊A2

Use 'tarea' for a specific, often assigned, household duty or a school assignment that needs to be completed.

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quehacer🔊B1

Choose 'quehacer' for general, ongoing household tasks or duties that are part of daily life at home.

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faena🔊B1

Use 'faena' for repetitive or laborious household or manual work that requires effort.

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mandado🔊A2

Use 'mandado' for a small, quick domestic task, often implying a brief trip to a nearby place.

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recado🔊B1

Opt for 'recado' when the task involves going out to do something, like running an errand for someone else or picking something up.

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actividad🔊A1

Use 'actividad' broadly for any daily task or activity, not specifically a chore, but can sometimes encompass one if it's a regular part of your routine.

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English → Spanish

tarea

tah-REH-ahtaˈɾea

nounA2general
Use 'tarea' for a specific, often assigned, household duty or a school assignment that needs to be completed.
A cheerful person using a broom and dustpan to sweep dust off a floor, clearly completing a domestic chore.

Examples

Mi tarea de hoy es llamar al banco y pagar las cuentas.

My task today is to call the bank and pay the bills.

Las tareas domésticas son responsabilidad de todos en la casa.

Household chores are everyone's responsibility in the house.

quehacer

keh-ah-sehrkeaˈser

nounB1general
Choose 'quehacer' for general, ongoing household tasks or duties that are part of daily life at home.
A child happily sweeping the floor with a small broom in a clean kitchen.

Examples

Tengo muchos quehaceres domésticos hoy.

I have many household chores today.

El quehacer diario puede ser agotador.

The daily grind (daily tasks) can be exhausting.

Cada uno debe atender su propio quehacer.

Everyone should attend to their own business/tasks.

A Compound Word

This word is literally made by combining 'que' (what) and 'hacer' (to do). It describes the 'what-to-do' list of your day.

Commonly Plural

While you can use the singular form, you will most often hear it in the plural: 'los quehaceres.' This is similar to how we often say 'chores' in English.

Don't confuse with the verb

Mistake: “Tengo que quehacer.”

Correction: Tengo que hacer (I have to do) or Tengo quehaceres (I have chores).

faena

fah-EH-nahfaˈena

nounB1general
Use 'faena' for repetitive or laborious household or manual work that requires effort.
A person in overalls holding a large wooden broom and sweeping a clean floor.

Examples

Terminé todas mis faenas domésticas antes del mediodía.

I finished all my household chores before noon.

Es una faena pesada pero hay que hacerla.

It's a heavy task, but it has to be done.

Los agricultores comienzan su faena muy temprano.

The farmers begin their work very early.

Faena vs. Tarea

While both mean 'task,' 'faena' often implies physical effort or manual labor, whereas 'tarea' is more general and used for schoolwork or digital tasks.

Plurality

Mistake: “Mucho faena”

Correction: Mucha faena (it is a feminine noun, so the word for 'much' must end in 'a').

mandado

man-DAH-dohmanˈdaðo

nounA2informal
Use 'mandado' for a small, quick domestic task, often implying a brief trip to a nearby place.
A small child dressed in bright clothes walking and carrying a brown paper bag filled with groceries, representing a simple task or errand.

Examples

Necesito hacer un mandado rápido a la farmacia.

I need to run a quick errand to the pharmacy.

El niño se fue a entregar el mandado a casa de la vecina.

The boy went to deliver the message/goods to the neighbor's house.

Ya compré todo el mandado, solo falta guardarlo.

I already bought all the groceries, I just need to put them away.

Always Masculine

Even though 'errand' is a concept, mandado is a masculine noun, so use the article el or un.

Using the wrong verb

Mistake: “Voy a correr un mandado.”

Correction: Voy a hacer un mandado. (Use *hacer* 'to do/make', not *correr* 'to run', when describing the action of the errand.)

recado

reh-KAH-dohreˈkaðo

nounB1general
Opt for 'recado' when the task involves going out to do something, like running an errand for someone else or picking something up.
A colorful storybook illustration of a person walking down a village street carrying a loaf of bread and a small brown paper bag.

Examples

Tengo que salir a hacer unos recados.

I have to go out to run some errands.

Mi abuela me mandó a un recado a la farmacia.

My grandmother sent me on an errand to the pharmacy.

Fui por el mandado y otros recados pendientes.

I went for the groceries and other pending errands.

Doing vs. Making

Always use the verb 'hacer' with 'recados' when you mean running errands. It functions just like 'doing' chores in English.

Confusing Message and Errand

Mistake: “Saying 'hacer un recado' when you want to leave a phone message.”

Correction: Say 'dejar un recado' for a message and 'hacer un recado' for an errand. The verb completely changes what you are doing!

actividad

ahk-tee-bee-DAHDak.ti.βiˈðað

nounA1general
Use 'actividad' broadly for any daily task or activity, not specifically a chore, but can sometimes encompass one if it's a regular part of your routine.
A close-up of a child's hands carefully planting a small green seedling into rich brown soil using a tiny red shovel.

Examples

Mi actividad favorita es leer novelas de misterio.

My favorite activity is reading mystery novels.

Tenemos muchas actividades escolares planeadas para este mes.

We have many school activities planned for this month.

Siempre hago actividad física por las mañanas.

I always do physical activity in the mornings.

Always Feminine

This word is always feminine, so you must use 'la' or 'una' with it, not 'el' or 'un'. This is true for almost all Spanish words ending in -dad.

Chores vs. Errands

Learners often confuse 'quehaceres' and 'recados/mandados'. Remember that 'quehaceres' refers to tasks done *at home*, while 'recados' and 'mandados' specifically imply tasks done *outside* the home, like errands.

Related Translations

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