Inklingo

How to Say "i charge" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “i charge” is “cargo” — use 'cargo' when you mean to load or charge something, like a battery, a device, or physical items into a vehicle.

English → Spanish

cargo

KAR-goˈkaɾɣo

verbA1general
Use 'cargo' when you mean to load or charge something, like a battery, a device, or physical items into a vehicle.
A person actively lifting a large, heavy brown suitcase and placing it into the open trunk of a car, representing the action 'I load'.

Examples

Yo cargo mi teléfono todas las noches.

I charge my phone every night.

Yo cargo las maletas en el coche.

I load the suitcases into the car.

Siempre cargo con mi mochila a todas partes.

I always carry my backpack with me everywhere.

Cargo mi teléfono todas las noches.

I charge my phone every night.

Spelling Change Alert!

Notice how 'cargar' changes spelling in some forms, like 'cargué' (I loaded) and 'cargue' (subjunctive). The 'g' changes to 'gu' before an 'e' to keep the hard 'g' sound. It's a common pattern for verbs ending in '-gar'.

cobro

KOH-brohˈko.βɾo

verbA1general
Use 'cobro' when you mean to ask for or receive money for goods or services you provide.
A shopkeeper handing a small paper invoice to a customer in a bakery.

Examples

Yo cobro por hora de consultoría.

I charge for hours of consulting.

Yo cobro cincuenta euros por hora.

I charge fifty euros per hour.

Normalmente cobro mi sueldo los viernes.

I usually get my salary on Fridays.

Si voy al banco ahora, cobro el cheque de inmediato.

If I go to the bank now, I cash the check immediately.

The Personal 'a'

When you are charging a person (not just an item), you must add 'a' after the verb. For example: 'Cobro a los clientes' (I charge the customers).

Present Tense 'o' Ending

In Spanish, most action words that end in 'o' are talking about what 'I' am doing right now.

Cobro vs. Cobra

Mistake: “La cobro es peligrosa.”

Correction: La cobra es peligrosa.

Loading vs. Getting Paid

The most common mistake is confusing 'cargo' (to load/charge a battery) with 'cobro' (to ask for money). Remember: if money is changing hands for a service, use 'cobro'; if you're filling something up or powering something, use 'cargo'.

Related Translations

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