Spanish vocabulary · Intermediate
How to Say Accountable in Spanish: Responsable
Responsable · adjective · reh-spohn-SAH-bleh
Accountable in Spanish is responsable, an adjective meaning answerable or liable, or expressed through the phrase rendir cuentas (to be held accountable).
Responsable is reh-spohn-SAH-bleh, with the stress on the third syllable.
Cada empleado es responsable de sus propias decisiones.
Each employee is accountable for their own decisions.
Accountable in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for accountable, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| responsable | accountable | reh-spohn-SAH-bleh | Default, widely understood |
| rendir cuentas | accountable | verb phrase: to be held accountable |
How Native Speakers Use Responsable
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Workplace responsibility
El gerente debe ser responsable de los resultados del equipo.
The manager must be accountable for the team's results.
Professional accountability.
Government accountability
Los políticos deben rendir cuentas a los ciudadanos.
Politicians must be accountable to citizens.
Rendir cuentas means to answer for one's actions.
Personal responsibility
Te hago responsable de lo que pase.
I hold you accountable for whatever happens.
Assigning responsibility.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Responsable
Using contable for accountable
Incorrect: Él es contable por sus acciones.
Correct: Él es responsable de sus acciones.
Contable means countable or refers to an accountant, not accountable.
Wrong preposition
Incorrect: Soy responsable por el proyecto.
Correct: Soy responsable del proyecto.
Responsable typically uses de (not por) to indicate what one is accountable for.
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Common Questions About Accountable in Spanish
- How do you say accountable in Spanish?
- The most direct translation is responsable, and the verbal phrase rendir cuentas captures the concept of being held to account.
- Is there a difference between responsable and culpable?
- Responsable means accountable or responsible in a neutral sense, while culpable carries a negative connotation meaning guilty or blameworthy.
- How do you say to hold someone accountable?
- The expression is hacer responsable a alguien or exigir que alguien rinda cuentas, both conveying that someone must answer for their actions.