Turn this distinction into automatic recall
Falando teaches Brazilian Portuguese through grammar, vocabulary, audio, examples, and spaced review, so confusing pairs stop feeling like guesses.
Quick answer
Ônus foregrounds the burden or adverse consequence; encargo foregrounds an assigned duty or added charge.
A reliable test is to identify the job of the word before translating from English.
What each word does
ônus
burden or disadvantage
Use ônus for a legal, financial, or practical burden attached to a choice, right, or claim.
encargo
charge, duty, or assigned burden
Use encargo for a responsibility entrusted to someone or an additional financial charge.
How to choose
- ônus: Choose ônus if the sentence points to a legal, financial, or practical burden attached to a choice, right, or claim.
- encargo: Choose encargo if the sentence points to a responsibility entrusted to someone or an additional financial charge.
Examples
Cabe ao autor o ônus da prova.
The burden of proof falls on the claimant.
Ela assumiu o encargo de coordenar a equipe.
She took on the duty of coordinating the team.
Common trap
Both can be financial. Preserve fixed expressions such as ônus da prova and encargos trabalhistas rather than swapping them.
Practice it in context
Pick one sentence from your real life and write it twice: once with ônus, then once with encargo. If both versions feel possible, name the meaning shift.
Turn this distinction into automatic recall
Falando teaches Brazilian Portuguese through grammar, vocabulary, audio, examples, and spaced review, so confusing pairs stop feeling like guesses.