Spanish Verbs Meaning To Become

Spanish has no single verb that you can use to translate to become. Your choice of verb typically will depend on the nature of change that occurs, such as whether its sudden or involuntary. Spanish also has a multitude of verbs that are used for specific types of change — for example, enloquecer often means to become crazy and deprimirse means to become depressed. Llegar a ser Llegar a ser typically refers to change over a long period of time, often with effort. It is often translated as to eventually become. Andrea Montenegro llegà ³ a ser considerada una de las modelos mà ¡s populares del paà ­s. (Andrea Montenegro came to be considered one of the countrys most popular models.)Es inevitable que todos lleguemos a ser ancianos. (Its inevitable that all of us will become old.)No creo que llegue a ser un problema. (I dont believe itll become a problem.)Lo mà ¡s importante para que un nià ±o llegue a ser bilingà ¼e es hacer que su desarrollo del lenguaje sea una experiencia agradable y positiva. (The most important thing for a child in becoming bilingual is making language development a pleasant and positive experience.) Ponerse The reflexive form of the common verb poner, ponerse, is often used to refer to a change in emotion or mood, especially when the change is sudden or temporary. It can also be used to refer to changes in physical appearance and many other traits and can apply to inanimate objects as well as persons. Cuando llegà ³ Antonio, su madre se puso feliz de tenerlo en casa. (When Antonio arrived, his mother became very happy to have him at home.)En aquel dà ­a me puse enfermo. (On that day I became sick.)Cuando el cielo se pone oscuro las mariposas dejan de volar. (When the sky becomes dark the butterflies quit flying.)No nos pongamos tristes. Se va a un lugar mejor. (Lets not become sad. Hes going away to a better place.) Hacerse Another reflexive verb, hacerse, usually refers to deliberate or voluntary changes. It often refers to a change in identity or affiliation. Admite que se hizo escritor por desesperacià ³n. (He admits that he became a writer out of desperation.) ¿Cà ³mo me hago miembro de Mensa? (How can I become a member of Mensa?)Vamos a hacernos millonarios. (Were going to become millionaires.)Mi padre nunca fue muy religioso, pero sà © que se hizo ateo aquel dà ­a trà ¡gico. (My father was never very religious, but I know that he became an atheist on that dreadful day.) Convertirse en This verb phrase convertirse en typically means to change into or to turn into. It typically suggests a major change. Although less common, transformarse en can be used in much the same way. Es el dà ­a que me convertà ­ en mujer. (It is the day I became a woman.)Nos convertimos en lo que pensamos. (We become what we think.)Me convertà ­ en una persona mucho mà ¡s feliz. (I turned into a much happier person.)Nos transformamos en lo que queremos ser. (We turn ourselves into what we want to be.)En la metà ¡fora, la oruga se transforma en mariposa. (In the metaphor, the caterpillar becomes a butterfly.) Volverse Volverse typically suggests involuntary change and generally applies to people rather than inanimate objects. Los jugadores se volvieron locos. (The players went crazy.)Con el tiempo, me volvà ­ perezoso y terminà © escribiendo. (With time, I became lazy and ended up writing.)Es la paradoja del ahorro: Si todos ahorramos, nos volveremos pobres. (Its the paradox of savings: If we all save, we will become poor.) Pasar a ser This phrase pasar a ser suggests change that occurs in the course of events. It is often translated as to go on to be. Pasà © a ser subordinada de à ©l. (I came to be his subordinate.)Pasamos a ser nuestro peor enemigo. (We are becoming our own worst enemy.)Al mismo tiempo, Europa pasaba a ser el mayor inversor extranjero en Argentina y Chile. (At the same time, Europe came to be the biggest foreign investor in Argentina and Chile.) Reflexive Verbs and Changes in Emotion Many verbs that refer to having emotions can be used reflexively to refer to a person becoming someone with a particular emotional state. Reflexive verbs can refer to other kinds of changes as well: Me aburrà ­ de la monotonà ­a. (I got bored with the monotony.)El soldado se exasperà ³ por la incapacidad de decisià ³n de sus jefes de guerra. (The soldier became frustrated by the inability of the war chiefs to make a decision.)Me alegrà © al ver el hospital. (I became happy to see the hospital.)Casi se atragantà ³ cuando vio los noticieros. (She almost became choked up when she saw the news.) Nonreflexive Verbs Denoting Change Many reflexive verbs denote change or becoming, but so do a smaller number of nonreflexive verbs: Milton enrojecià ³ cuando la vio. (Milton turned red when he saw her.)Las ideas buenas escasearon. (Good ideas became scarce.)La situacià ³n empeorà ³ con rapidez. (The situation quickly became worse.) Key Takeaways Spanish uses a variety of verbs to translate to become, the choice depending on what is changing and the nature of the change.Most of Spanish verbs of becoming are in the reflexive form.Spanish verbs exist for some highly specific types of change, such as enrojecer, to become red.