Inklingo

How to Say "chore" in Spanish

English → Spanish

tarea

/tah-REH-ah//taˈɾea/

nounA2household duty
Use 'tarea' for a household duty or a specific task assigned to you, like paying bills or a school assignment.
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 limpiar el garaje.

My chore today is to clean the garage.

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.

mandado

/man-DAH-doh//manˈdaðo/

nounA2small domestic task
Use 'mandado' for a short, specific errand, usually involving going out to a place like a store or a bank.
A small child dressed in bright clothes walking and carrying a brown paper bag filled with groceries, representing a simple task or errand.

Examples

Voy a hacer un mandado rápido al supermercado.

I'm going to run a quick errand to the supermarket.

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.)

actividad

ahk-tee-bee-DAHD/ak.ti.βiˈðað/

nounA1daily task
Use 'actividad' when referring to a daily routine or a general activity, which might include chores but is broader.
A close-up of a child's hands carefully planting a small green seedling into rich brown soil using a tiny red shovel.

Examples

Regar las plantas es una actividad diaria en mi casa.

Watering the plants is a daily activity/chore in my house.

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.

Tarea vs. Mandado

Learners often confuse 'tarea' and 'mandado'. Remember that 'tarea' is typically a duty or assigned task, often done at home, while 'mandado' specifically implies going out to run an errand, like going to the post office or a shop.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.