You want to say "she became famous," so you open your translator app. But wait, which of the five options is the right one? In English, the verb "to become" is a trusty, all-purpose tool. In Spanish, however, expressing change is a much more colorful and precise art.
Choosing the right verb isn't just about being grammatically correct; it’s about conveying the exact type of transformation. Was it sudden? Was it intentional? Was it a change in emotion or profession? (For more on verb states, check out our guide on Ser vs. Estar.)
Don't worry, we're about to untangle this puzzle. Let's dive into the five key Spanish verbs for "to become" and turn your confusion into confidence.
1. Hacerse: Change Through Effort or Natural Progression
Think of hacerse when a change is the result of personal effort, a conscious decision, or a natural, expected progression. It's often used for professions, ideologies, wealth, and life stages.
- Professions & Ideologies: You work to become a doctor or choose to become a vegetarian. (Expand your knowledge with our professions and jobs vocabulary list.)
- Ana estudió mucho y se hizo abogada. (Ana studied a lot and became a lawyer.)
- Mi hermano se hizo budista el año pasado. (My brother became a Buddhist last year.)
- Natural Progression: Things that happen over time, like aging or the time of day.
- ¡Mira qué grande! Mi hijo se ha hecho un hombre. (Look how big! My son has become a man.)
- Rápido, se está haciendo de noche. (Quick, it's becoming night.)
Key Idea for 'Hacerse'
If you can ask "How did it happen?" and the answer involves work, study, choice, or just the natural passage of time, hacerse is probably your verb.
2. Ponerse: Temporary and Involuntary Changes
Ponerse is your go-to for sudden, temporary changes, especially with moods, emotions, and physical appearance. Think of it as "to get" or "to turn" in English. The change isn't deep or permanent.
- Emotions & Moods: (Learn more about feelings and states of mind.)
- Él se pone nervioso antes de los exámenes. (He gets nervous before exams.)
- Me puse muy contentahappy/content cuando recibí la noticia. (I became very happy when I received the news.)
- Physical Appearance & Health:
- Cuando miente, se pone rojo como un tomate. (When he lies, he turns red as a tomato.)
- No salgas sin abrigo o te vas a poner enfermo. (Don't go out without a coat or you're going to get sick.)
Which verb fits best? 'Ayer comí algo malo y ___ enfermo.'
3. Volverse: A Sudden, Profound Transformation
If ponerse is a temporary shift, volverse is a more dramatic and lasting change, often affecting someone's character or personality. It's usually involuntary and can happen quite suddenly. It’s the closest to "to turn into."
The classic example is volverse loco/a (to go crazy).
- Desde que ganó la lotería, se ha vuelto una persona arrogante. (Since he won the lottery, he has become an arrogant person.)
- Con los años, mi tío se volvió un poco desconfiado. (Over the years, my uncle became a bit distrustful.) (Practice describing character with our guide on describing personality in depth.)
Let's see how a change in verb can change the meaning.
Drag the handle to compare
Se puso serio implies he got serious for a moment (temporary). Se volvió serio implies his whole personality changed and he is now a serious person (profound and lasting).
4. Llegar a ser: The Long Journey to Becoming
Llegar a ser emphasizes a long process or journey. It implies that a significant amount of time and effort was invested to achieve a goal, often a high-ranking or important one. It's similar to "to eventually become" or "to make it to."
- Después de muchos años de trabajo, llegó a ser el director de la empresa. (After many years of work, he became the director of the company.)
- A pesar de su origen humilde, llegó a ser una estrella de cine mundialmente famosa. (Despite his humble origins, he eventually became a world-famous movie star.) (Read about life events and milestones.)
Hacerse vs. Llegar a ser
Both can be used for professions. Hacerse simply states the fact (Se hizo médico - He became a doctor). Llegar a ser highlights the long, arduous journey to get there (Llegó a ser un médico famoso - He eventually became a famous doctor).
5. Convertirse en: A Radical Transformation
Use convertirse en when you're talking about a complete and total change, like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. It means "to turn into" or "to be converted into." It's often used for changes in category, like a person becoming a hero or a book becoming a movie. Note the mandatory use of the preposition en.
- El pequeño pueblo se convirtió en una gran ciudad turística. (The small town turned into a big tourist city.) (This relates to social issues and debates.)
- El agua se convierte en hielo a cero grados. (Water turns into ice at zero degrees.)
- Gracias a su valentía, el bombero se convirtió en un héroe local. (Thanks to his bravery, the firefighter became a local hero.)
Arrange the words to form a correct sentence:
Let's Recap!
Feeling more confident? Let's do a quick review:
| Verb | Type of Change | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Hacerse | Effort, will, natural progression | Se hizo rico trabajando. (He became rich by working.) |
| Ponerse | Temporary, involuntary (emotion/health) | Se puso triste. (She got sad.) |
| Volverse | Sudden, lasting (personality) | Se volvió loco. (He went crazy.) |
| Llegar a ser | Gradual, after a long effort | Llegó a ser presidente. (He eventually became president.) |
| Convertirse en | Radical transformation, "to turn into" | Se convirtió en una leyenda. (He became a legend.) |
Mastering these verbs will add incredible precision and color to your Spanish. The next time you want to say "to become," pause for a second and think about the story behind the change. The answer will lead you to the perfect verb. ¡Buena suerte! (Continue your learning journey by reading some of our Spanish stories!)