cambiar
/kahm-bee-AHR/
to change
The primary meaning of cambiar is 'to change,' often referring to something becoming different on its own, like the seasons.
cambiar(Verb)
to change
?when something becomes different on its own
to alter
?to become different
,to vary
?to show differences
📝 In Action
El tiempo cambia muy rápido en la montaña.
A1The weather changes very quickly in the mountains.
Las cosas han cambiado mucho desde que éramos niños.
A2Things have changed a lot since we were kids.
Mi hermano cambió de opinión y ahora quiere venir.
B1My brother changed his mind and now he wants to come.
💡 Grammar Points
Changing Your Mind, Job, etc.
To say you're changing something like your mind, job, or house, use the pattern 'cambiar de + [noun]'. For example, 'Voy a cambiar de trabajo' (I'm going to change jobs). You don't need to say 'mi trabajo'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Changing Clothes: 'cambiar' vs. 'cambiarse'
Mistake: "Voy a cambiar mi ropa."
Correction: Voy a cambiarme de ropa. When you're changing your own clothes, you almost always use 'cambiarse'. Think of it like 'to change oneself'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing Change Over Time
This sense of 'cambiar' is perfect for talking about how people, places, or situations have become different over time. For example: '¡Has cambiado mucho!' (You've changed a lot!).
This image illustrates the second meaning of cambiar: 'to exchange' or 'to trade' one item for another.
cambiar(Verb)
to exchange
?trading one thing for another, like money or goods
to trade
?swapping items
,to switch
?replacing one thing with another
📝 In Action
¿Dónde puedo cambiar dinero?
A1Where can I exchange money?
Necesito cambiar esta camisa por una talla más grande.
A2I need to exchange this shirt for a larger size.
Cambiamos los muebles de lugar para tener más espacio.
B1We changed the furniture around (switched the places of the furniture) to have more space.
💡 Grammar Points
The Magic Word: 'por'
When you exchange one thing FOR another, always use the word 'por'. The structure is: cambiar [thing A] por [thing B]. For example, 'Cambié mi sándwich por tu ensalada' (I traded my sandwich for your salad).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'para' Instead of 'por'
Mistake: "Quiero cambiar este billete para monedas."
Correction: Quiero cambiar este billete por monedas. In an exchange, 'por' is the word that means 'in return for'. 'Para' means 'for the purpose of' and doesn't fit here.
⭐ Usage Tips
Shopping and Travel
This is your go-to verb in stores when an item doesn't fit ('¿Puedo cambiarlo?') or at the airport when changing planes ('Tenemos que cambiar de avión en Madrid').
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cambiar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly says 'I'm going to change my clothes'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'cambiar' and 'cambiarse'?
Great question! Use 'cambiar' when you change an external thing (e.g., 'cambiar el canal' - to change the channel). Use 'cambiarse' when the subject of the verb is also the one being changed. This is most common for changing clothes ('me cambio de ropa') or moving to a new house ('me cambio de casa').
How is 'cambiar' different from 'transformar'?
'Cambiar' is the general, everyday word for 'to change'. 'Transformar' is more dramatic and implies a bigger, more fundamental change, like a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly. You can use 'cambiar' for small things ('cambiar una bombilla' - change a lightbulb) or big things ('la tecnología cambió el mundo' - technology changed the world), but 'transformar' is usually reserved for those bigger, more profound changes.