tarea
/taˈɾea/
tarea is the Spanish word for homework or assignments.
tarea refers to work or specific assignments given to students to be completed at home.
Which one should you use?
While tarea is the standard term, you may encounter other words depending on the level of formality or the specific region. For example, deberes is a common formal term in Spain and actividad is used in many regions to refer to a specific assigned exercise or activity.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, Uruguay and certain parts of Chile, tarea is often replaced by trabajo práctico or simply trabajo.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of tarea is tareas, used when referring to multiple assignments or homework tasks.
How do you pronounce it?
/taˈɾea/
Did you know?
- The word tarea comes from the Arabic word ṭarīḥa meaning 'endeavor' and is linked to the root ṭaraḥa meaning 'to throw'.
- The phrase tarea pendiente is used commonly in professional and personal life to refer to 'unfinished business' or a 'pending task'.
- The word tarea is used in some Spanish-speaking regions to describe a complex or arduous task that requires a great deal of effort, not just a school assignment.
Examples in context
- Maestra, ¿qué deberes tenemos para hoy?Teacher, what homework do we have for today?
- ¡Ana, no puedo salir hoy! Tengo mucha tarea para hacerAna, I can't go out today! I have a lot of homework to do
- Me quedan algunos debercitos por hacerI still have a few small assignments to do
- Mañana tenemos un trabajo práctico de historiaTomorrow we have a history assignment
- El profesor me asignó muchos deberes para el fin de semana.The teacher assigned me a lot of homework for the weekend.
- Amigo, la tarea está muy difícil esta vez, ¿me ayudas?Friend, the homework is really difficult this time, can you help me?
- Tengo mucha tarea de matemáticas.I have a lot of math homework.
- ¿Ya terminaste la tarea de inglés?Did you finish the English homework yet?
- La tarea es muy difícil.The homework is very difficult.
Example conversation
Two students are studying together in a library.
- Alejandro¿Quieres ayudarme con la tarea?Do you want to help me with the homework?
- ElenaSí, Alejandro, puedo ayudarte.Yes, Alejandro, I can help you.
- AlejandroGracias, Elena, eres muy amable.Thanks, Elena, you are very kind.
- ElenaNo hay problema, empecemos ahora.No problem, let's start now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry tarea, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tarea, CC BY-SA 4.0.
