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verb

encargar

take charge · entrust · take care · take care of · order · assign

Pedir a alguien que haga algo o que se ocupe de una tarea o trabajo.

Definition & meaning

Encargar means:

  1. To commission or order something, especially a product or service made or provided for someone: to order a cake or commission a painting.
  2. To entrust someone with a task or responsibility: to put someone in charge of something.
  3. To ask someone to do something or pass on a message.

In its pronominal form, encargarse means to take charge of or be responsible for something.

Grammar & Word origin

Encargar is a regular -ar verb. Its spelling changes from g to gu before e to preserve the sound: encargué.

It is formed from the prefix en- and carga (“load” or “burden”), conveying the idea of placing a responsibility on someone.

Synonyms & antonyms

  • encomendar — “to entrust”; often more formal and focused on responsibility.
  • pedir — “to request” or “order”; broader and less specifically associated with commissioning.
  • delegar — “to delegate”; emphasizes transferring authority or a task to another person.
  • asumir — “to assume” responsibility; it contrasts with encargar when one person gives a responsibility to another.

Common phrases & collocations

  • encargar algo a alguien — to entrust or order something from someone.
  • encargar que alguien haga algo — to ask someone to do something.
  • encargarse de algo — to take charge of something.
  • encargar un pastel — to order a cake.

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Examples

Él se encargará de organizar la reunión.verb

He will take charge of organizing the meeting.

Nos quieren encargar la decoración de la fiesta.verb

They want to entrust us with the decoration of the party.

Nos encargamos de toda la decoración para la fiesta.verb

We take care of all the decoration for the party.

María decidió encargarse de comprar el pastel para el evento.verb

María decided to take care of buying the cake for the event.

María decidió encargar una tarta de chocolate en la pastelería.verb

María decided to order a chocolate cake at the bakery.

Mi jefe me encargó un proyecto importante en la oficina.verb

My boss assigned me an important project at the office.

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