hacer la tarea
/aθeɾ la taɾea/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "doing homework" is translated as hacer la tarea.
The phrase is used to describe the act of completing school assignments at home.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb hacer (to do/make) and the noun phrase la tarea (the homework/task).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, it is very common to use the phrase hacer los deberes instead of hacer la tarea. In certain Latin American countries, the plural form hacer las tareas might be preferred over hacer los deberes.
How do you pronounce it?
/aθeɾ la taɾea/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often omit the definite article, but in Spanish, it is standard to include la and say hacer la tarea when referring to school assignments.
Did you know?
- The word deberes comes from the verb deber, meaning 'to owe'. Using it for homework implies that the student 'owes' the work to the teacher.
- The word tarea has a surprising connection to the Arabic root for 'to throw', originally suggesting an 'endeavor' or something thrown down to be dealt with.
- In many Spanish-speaking households, a child might be told to hacer la tarea as a prerequisite for merendar, the traditional mid-afternoon snack.
Examples in context
- A Tom no le gusta hacer la tarea.Tom doesn't like doing homework.This sentence is useful for expressing a lack of enjoyment for the action of hacer la tarea.Tatoeba #1231965 by hayastan, translation #1026044 by CK
- Traducir oraciones en Tatoeba es más divertido que hacer la tarea.Translating sentences on Tatoeba is more fun than doing homework.This sentence is useful for comparing the enjoyment of two different activities involving hacer la tarea.Tatoeba #755660 by darinmex, translation #628541 by shekitten
- Normalmente, después de la cena, me siento en mi escritorio y paso un par de horas haciendo los deberes.Usually, after dinner, I sit at my desk and spend a couple of hours doing my homework.
- Tengo que hacer la tarea antes de la cena.I have to do my homework before dinner.
Example conversation
Daniel and María are talking after school.
- Daniel¿Quieres ir al parque, María?Do you want to go to the park, María?
- MaríaNo puedo, todavía tengo que hacer la tarea.I can't, I still have to do my homework.
- DanielYo también debo terminar mis ejercicios.I also must finish my exercises.
- MaríaVamos al parque después de terminar.Let's go to the park after finishing.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hacer, la, tarea, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
