asignar
verbCEFR B2
What does “asignar” mean in English?
to assign, to allocate
to assign, to allocate (asignar una tarea/responsabilidad — distributing tasks or resources without necessarily transferring authority)
Example sentences
Se han asignado las responsabilidades según las competencias y la disponibilidad de cada miembro del equipo.
Responsibilities have been assigned according to each team member's skills and availability.
El coordinador nos asignó las tareas al inicio del proyecto y fijó los plazos de entrega correspondientes.
The coordinator assigned us the tasks at the start of the project and set the corresponding delivery deadlines.
El presupuesto asignado para el primer trimestre es insuficiente para cubrir todos los gastos previstos.
The budget allocated for the first quarter is insufficient to cover all projected expenses.
How to use it
Asignar means 'to assign' or 'to allocate' — to give someone a specific task, role, or resource. Pattern: asignar una tarea / un presupuesto / a alguien a un proyecto. The verb can take either a person or a thing as its direct object: asignar una tarea a alguien (assign a task to someone) or asignar a alguien una tarea (assign someone a task — two acceptable orders). La asignación (assignment) and el asignatario/a (assignee) are related. Register: formal-neutral.
Common mistake
Asignar ≠ delegar: asignar is task or resource distribution (giving out work items), delegar involves transferring authority and trust. You can asignar tasks to interns without delegating authority to them. Word order: asignar una tarea a alguien and asignar a alguien una tarea are both grammatical — the choice reflects what is foregrounded (task vs. person).