casar
/cah-SAHR/
to marry
Visualizing 'casar' meaning to marry or officiate a wedding ceremony.
📝 In Action
El juez casó a la pareja en el ayuntamiento.
B1The judge married the couple in the city hall.
Mi tío, que es sacerdote, casará a mi hermana.
B1My uncle, who is a priest, will marry my sister.
💡 Grammar Points
Active Voice
This form of 'casar' is used when the subject is the person performing the wedding, like a priest or judge.
Visualizing 'casar' meaning to get married or enter into matrimony.
📝 In Action
¿Cuándo te casas con tu novia?
A2When are you getting married to your girlfriend?
Mis padres se casaron hace treinta años.
A2My parents got married thirty years ago.
Ella no quiere casarse todavía.
A2She doesn't want to get married yet.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Se' Difference
When you add 'se' (casarse), the verb changes meaning to an action you perform on yourself or mutually with someone else. Here, it means 'to enter into marriage' yourself.
Preposition 'Con'
To say who you are marrying, always use the preposition 'con' (with): 'Me caso con Juan' (I am marrying Juan).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the 'Se'
Mistake: "Yo caso mañana. (I officiate tomorrow.)"
Correction: Yo *me caso* mañana. (I get married tomorrow.) The 'se' is essential when you are the one getting married.
Visualizing 'casar' meaning to match or harmonize colors or tastes.
casar(verb)
to match
?colors, tastes, items
,to fit
?harmonize well
to pair
?wine and food
📝 In Action
El vino tinto no casa bien con el pescado.
B2Red wine doesn't pair well with fish.
Estos colores no casan; son demasiado diferentes.
B2These colors don't match; they are too different.
💡 Grammar Points
Figurative Use
In this sense, 'casar' is used just like 'to match' in English, showing that two things go together or complement each other.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with Negatives
This meaning is often seen in the negative ('no casa bien') to describe things that clash or don't fit together.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: casar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'casar' to mean 'to get married'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'casar' and 'casarse'?
'Casar' (without 'se') means 'to marry' or 'to officiate' the wedding (done by a judge or priest). 'Casarse' (with 'se') means 'to get married' (done by the couple themselves).
How do I say 'I am married'?
You use the past participle 'casado' (or 'casada' if you are female) with the verb 'estar': 'Estoy casado/a.' (I am married.)