cargo por mora
/kaɾɡo poɾ moɾa/from spelling rules
The English phrase "late fee" is translated into Spanish as cargo por mora.
The term cargo por mora is used to denote a penalty for late payment. It is commonly found in formal contexts such as banking, library systems or utility billing.
Meaning: fee charged for late material (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of cargo (charge), por (for or due to) and mora (delay or default).
Which one should you use?
While cargo por mora is a standard way to express the concept, you can use recargo por mora to specifically emphasize the fee as a surcharge or an additional penalty fee.
How do you pronounce it?
/kaɾɡo poɾ moɾa/
Did you know?
- The word mora is a homonym with three completely different meanings: a 'delay' in law, a 'blackberry' in the kitchen and a woman of North African descent.
- The term mora is a learned borrowing from the Latin word for 'delay', which may have originally come from the Ancient Greek word móron.
- While cargo por mora is used for financial penalties, you cannot use it for a person arriving late, as Spanish uses entirely different vocabulary for human punctuality.
Examples in context
- Olvidé pagar mi factura a tiempo. ¿Cuánto es el recargo por tardanza?I forgot to pay my bill on time. How much is the late fee?
- Si pagas después de la fecha límite, te cobrarán una multa por retraso.If you pay after the deadline, you will be charged a late fee.
- El cargo por mora es de cinco euros.The late fee is five euros.
- Debes pagar el cargo por mora hoy mismo.You must pay the late fee today.
- ¿Cuál es el cargo por mora por los libros?What is the late fee for the books?
Example conversation
At a local library.
- MaríaHola Daniel, quiero devolver este libro.Hello Daniel, I want to return this book.
- DanielLo siento María, tienes un cargo por mora.I'm sorry María, you have a late fee.
- María¿Cuánto es el cargo por mora?How much is the late fee?
- DanielSon dos euros en total.It is two euros in total.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cargo, mora, por, CC BY-SA 4.0.
