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clasificar

klah-see-fee-KAHRklasifiˈkaɾ

“clasificar” means “to classify” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

to classify, to sort

Also: to file
VerbA2regular with spelling change ar
A child sorting different colored wooden blocks into matching colored bins.
gerundclasificando
past Participleclasificado
infinitiveclasificar

📝 In Action

Necesito clasificar estos documentos por fecha.

A2

I need to sort these documents by date.

Los científicos clasifican a los animales en diferentes grupos.

B1

Scientists classify animals into different groups.

Es difícil clasificar esta película; es un poco de todo.

B2

It's hard to categorize this movie; it's a bit of everything.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • ordenar (to order/organize)
  • categorizar (to categorize)

Antonyms

  • desordenar (to mess up/disorganize)
  • mezclar (to mix)

Common Collocations

  • clasificar por orden alfabético – to sort alphabetically
  • clasificar información – to sort through information

to qualify

Also: to rank
VerbB1regular with spelling change ar
A happy athlete wearing a gold medal standing on a podium with a winner's ribbon.
gerundclasificando
past Participleclasificado
infinitiveclasificar

📝 In Action

Nuestro equipo se clasificó para la final.

B1

Our team qualified for the final.

Solo los tres mejores clasificarán.

B1

Only the three best will qualify.

Ella se clasificó en primer lugar.

B2

She ranked in first place.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • quedar fuera (to be left out/disqualified)
  • ser eliminado (to be eliminated)

Common Collocations

  • clasificarse para la final – to qualify for the final
  • clasificarse para el Mundial – to qualify for the World Cup

Subjunctive

Imperfect Subjunctive

yoclasificara
túclasificaras
él/ella/ustedclasificara
nosotrosclasificáramos
vosotrosclasificarais
ellos/ellas/ustedesclasificaran

Present Subjunctive

yoclasifique
túclasifiques
él/ella/ustedclasifique
nosotrosclasifiquemos
vosotrosclasifiquéis
ellos/ellas/ustedesclasifiquen

Indicative

Preterite

yoclasifiqué
túclasificaste
él/ella/ustedclasificó
nosotrosclasificamos
vosotrosclasificasteis
ellos/ellas/ustedesclasificaron

Imperfect

yoclasificaba
túclasificabas
él/ella/ustedclasificaba
nosotrosclasificábamos
vosotrosclasificabais
ellos/ellas/ustedesclasificaban

Present

yoclasifico
túclasificas
él/ella/ustedclasifica
nosotrosclasificamos
vosotrosclasificáis
ellos/ellas/ustedesclasifican
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "clasificar" in Spanish:

to classify→to file→to qualify→to rank→to sort→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: clasificar

Question 1 of 3

How do you say 'I sorted the mail' in the past (Preterite)?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
la clasificación(classification/ranking) — Noun
clasificado(classified/qualified) — Adjective
el clasificador(sorter/organizer) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin 'classis' (meaning a group, division, or fleet) and 'facere' (to make or do). Essentially, 'to make a group'.

First recorded: 18th century (Modern Spanish)

Cognates (Related words)

English: classifyFrench: classifierItalian: classificare

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'clasificar' irregular?

It is mostly regular, but it has a spelling change. In the 'yo' form of the past (clasifiqué) and in all present subjunctive forms (clasifique, clasifiques, etc.), the 'c' becomes 'qu' to maintain the hard 'k' sound.

What is the difference between 'ordenar' and 'clasificar'?

'Ordenar' is usually for putting things in order or tidying up (like a room). 'Clasificar' is for putting things into specific groups or categories based on their characteristics.

Does it only mean 'to sort'?

No, in Spanish it is also the primary way to say 'to qualify' in sports, like qualifying for the Olympics or the World Cup.