hacerse cargo de
verbCEFR B1
What does “hacerse cargo de” mean in English?
1.to take charge of, to take responsibility for
to take charge of, to take responsibility for (hacerse cargo de + noun / que + indicative)
2.to understand, to appreciate
to understand, to appreciate (hacerse cargo de que = I appreciate / understand that…)
Example sentences
Mientras el director estaba de baja, la subdirectora se hizo cargo de todos los departamentos y gestionó la crisis con mucha eficacia.
While the director was on sick leave, the deputy director took charge of all the departments and managed the crisis very efficiently.
Me hago cargo de que la situación es difícil, pero no puedo permitir que eso afecte a la calidad del trabajo.
I appreciate that the situation is difficult, but I cannot allow that to affect the quality of the work.
¿Quién va a hacerse cargo de los gastos si el proyecto no sale adelante como planeamos?
Who is going to take responsibility for the costs if the project doesn't go ahead as we planned?
How to use it
Hacerse cargo de means 'to take charge of', 'to take responsibility for', or 'to deal with'. It requires the reflexive (me hago cargo, te haces cargo, se hace cargo) and is always followed by de + noun or de que + clause. The de cannot be omitted. Hacerse cargo de que implies understanding or assuming a fact: me hago cargo de que fue difícil para ti (I understand / I appreciate that it was hard for you). It is more formal than hacerse responsable de and more idiomatic than encargarse de (which means 'to take care of / handle a task' — more practical and concrete).
Common mistake
The preposition de is obligatory — '*hacerse cargo' without de is incomplete. Do not confuse with tomar el control (to seize control, more forceful) or encargarse de (to handle/manage a practical task). Hacerse cargo de que + indicative is a set phrase for acknowledging or appreciating a reality — do not use subjunctive here because it follows a pattern of understood fact, not subjunctive trigger.