arreglar
/ah-rreh-GLAHR/
fix
Arreglar means to fix or repair something broken.
📝 In Action
Necesito arreglar la puerta del garaje. Está caída.
A1I need to fix the garage door. It has fallen down.
Mi hermano arregló mi bicicleta vieja para que pudiera usarla.
A2My brother repaired my old bicycle so I could use it.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with Things, Not People
This meaning of 'arreglar' almost always refers to fixing physical objects (a shoe, a clock, a machine), not to fixing a person (use 'curar' or 'sanar' for health).
Use arreglar when you mean to tidy up or make a space neat.
arreglar(Verb)
tidy up
?to make a space neat
,arrange
?to put items in order
organize
?to organize items or tasks
📝 In Action
Antes de irte, por favor, arregla tu escritorio.
A2Before you leave, please tidy up your desk.
Ella arregla las flores en jarrones muy bonitos.
B1She arranges the flowers in very pretty vases.
Arreglar can mean to sort out or resolve a conflict or issue.
arreglar(Verb)
sort out
?to resolve an issue or conflict
,settle
?a financial matter or a disagreement
manage
?to deal with a difficult situation
📝 In Action
Necesitamos arreglar este malentendido antes de que sea peor.
B1We need to sort out this misunderstanding before it gets worse.
El banco finalmente arregló la deuda de la compañía.
B2The bank finally settled the company's debt.
When you prepare yourself, such as getting dressed to go out, you can use the word arreglar.
arreglar(Verb)
get ready
?to prepare oneself, usually for going out
,dress up
?to smarten oneself up or put on makeup/nice clothes
📝 In Action
¿Cuánto tiempo necesitas para arreglarte antes de la cena?
B1How much time do you need to get ready before dinner?
Me arreglé mucho para la boda de mi prima.
B1I dressed up a lot for my cousin's wedding.
💡 Grammar Points
The Power of 'Se'
When 'arreglar' has the little word 'se' attached (arreglarse), it becomes a reflexive verb, meaning the person is doing the action to themselves, like 'getting oneself ready' or 'fixing oneself up.'
❌ Common Pitfalls
Fixing vs. Getting Ready
Mistake: "Using 'Yo arreglo' when you mean 'I am getting ready.'"
Correction: Use 'Me arreglo' (I get myself ready). 'Yo arreglo' means 'I fix (something else).'
⭐ Usage Tips
Personal Appearance
'Arreglarse' usually implies focusing on appearance—hair, clothes, makeup—not just generally getting ready for the day.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: arreglar
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'arreglar' in its reflexive form (arreglarse)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'arreglar' and 'fijar'?
While 'arreglar' means 'to fix' or 'to repair' a broken item (like a car), 'fijar' usually means 'to fasten' or 'to set' something firmly in place (like fixing a shelf to a wall or setting a price).
Can 'arreglar' be used for food?
Yes! In some regions, 'arreglar' can mean 'to prepare' or 'to season' food. For example, 'arreglar el pollo' means 'to prepare the chicken' (often seasoning it).