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clasificar

klah-see-fee-KAHR/klasifiˈkaɾ/

“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

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

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

present

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

indicative

preterite

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

imperfect

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

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesclasifican
yoclasifico
túclasificas
vosotrosclasificáis
nosotrosclasificamos
él/ella/ustedclasifica
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.