tarea
/taˈɾea/feminine
The English word chore can be translated into Spanish as tarea. Wiktionary also lists faena.
Meaning: a difficult, unpleasant, or routine task (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| tarea | /taˈɾea/ | feminine |
| faena | /faˈena/ | feminine |
A chore refers to a difficult, unpleasant or routine task. You can use the expression hacer las tareas domésticas to say 'to do the chores'. To ask for help with chores, you can use ayuda con los quehaceres. If you want to say 'to assign chores', you can use either dar quehaceres or asignar quehaceres.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the word quehacer is used to refer to chores.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of tarea is tareas, and the plural form of faena is faenas. Both tarea and faena are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/taˈɾea/
Did you know?
- In the world of bullfighting, a faena is not a chore but the final, artistic series of passes a matador performs with the bull.
- The word faena can be used as a slang expression in Spain to describe a 'dirty trick' or an unfortunate situation that ruins someone's plans.
- The word tarea traces its origins back to the Arabic word for an 'endeavor', which is linked to the root meaning 'to throw'.
Examples in context
- Añadir oraciones en Tatoeba puede ser una tarea.Adding sentences to Tatoeba can be a chore.This sentence uses tarea to illustrate how it can describe a difficult or tedious process.Tatoeba #5631779 by albrusgher, translation #2263297 by gone2bacolod
- Mi madre me asignó varias tareas domésticas para este fin de semana.My mother assigned me several chores for this weekend.
- Tengo que hacer algunos mandados antes de ir al cine esta tarde.I have to run some errands before going to the movies this afternoon.
- ¡Ayuda con los quehaceres de la casa, por favor!Help with the housework, please!
- Mi jefe me asignó varios quehaceres para hoy.My boss assigned me several chores for today.
- Después de la comida, me toca hacer las tareas domésticas.After lunch, it is my turn to do the chores.
- Por favor, necesito ayuda con los quehaceres de esta semana.Please, I need help with this week's chores.
- Limpiar la cocina es una tarea pesada.Cleaning the kitchen is a heavy chore.
Example conversation
María and Javier are talking about housework.
- MaríaTengo que lavar todos los platos ahora.I have to wash all the dishes now.
- JavierEsa es una tarea muy tediosa.That is a very tedious chore.
- MaríaSí, pero alguien debe hacerlo, Javier.Yes, but someone has to do it, Javier.
- JavierYo te ayudo para terminar rápido.I will help you to finish quickly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chore” translations and entries tarea, faena, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries faena, tarea, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
