aumentar
/ow-men-TAR/
to increase
Aumentar means to increase, like making a small quantity of apples much larger.
aumentar(verb)
to increase
?size, quantity, speed
,to raise
?salary, price, volume
to boost
?morale, production
📝 In Action
Necesitamos aumentar la velocidad para llegar a tiempo.
A1We need to increase the speed to arrive on time.
El jefe prometió aumentar mi salario el próximo año.
A2The boss promised to raise my salary next year.
Por favor, aumenta el volumen de la música.
A1Please, turn up the volume of the music.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Aumentar' Transitively
In this sense, 'aumentar' is transitive, meaning it must act upon a direct object (the thing being increased): 'Aumento [el volumen].'
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Transitive and Intransitive
Mistake: "La temperatura se aumentó el sol. (The sun increased the temperature.)"
Correction: El sol aumentó la temperatura. (The sun increased the temperature.) – Only use 'se' if the temperature increases itself.
⭐ Usage Tips
Simple Substitution
Think of 'aumentar' as a formal way of saying 'hacer más grande' (to make bigger) or 'hacer más' (to make more).
We use aumentar to mean to grow, such as a seedling growing into a full plant.
aumentar(verb)
to grow
?in size or number
,to rise
?prices, water level
to swell
?a river, a crowd
📝 In Action
El nivel del río aumentó después de la lluvia.
B1The river level rose after the rain.
La población ha aumentado dramáticamente en la última década.
B2The population has grown dramatically in the last decade.
El costo de la vida sigue aumentando.
B1The cost of living keeps rising.
💡 Grammar Points
Intransitive Use (No Direct Object)
In this sense, 'aumentar' is intransitive. The subject of the sentence (e.g., 'the river level') is the thing that is doing the increasing, and no other person or thing is causing the action.
The Role of 'Se' (Aumentarse)
Sometimes you will see 'aumentarse' (reflexive form) when the increase is perceived as happening automatically or affecting the subject directly, especially related to personal things like family or weight: 'Mi familia se ha aumentado' (My family has grown).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Misusing 'Crecer'
Mistake: "El precio creció. (The price grew.)"
Correction: El precio aumentó. (The price increased.) – 'Crecer' is usually for living things (people, plants); 'aumentar' is better for numbers, prices, and abstract concepts.
⭐ Usage Tips
Focus on Measurement
Use 'aumentar' when the change involves a measurable quantity (like temperature, cost, or population), rather than general growth.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: aumentar
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'aumentar' in the transitive sense (Definition 1)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'aumentar' and 'crecer'?
'Aumentar' is generally used for measurable quantities, abstract concepts, or things you can control (like prices, speed, or volume). 'Crecer' is almost always reserved for biological growth (people, animals, plants) or development over time.
Is 'aumentar' a stem-changing verb?
No, 'aumentar' is a completely regular -AR verb. Its stem (aument-) stays the same in all conjugations, making it easy to learn!