comportar
“comportar” means “to entail” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to entail
Also: to involve, to imply
📝 In Action
Ser el jefe comporta una gran responsabilidad.
B2Being the boss entails a great responsibility.
Este proyecto comporta riesgos financieros que debemos analizar.
B2This project involves financial risks that we must analyze.
La libertad siempre comporta deberes.
C1Freedom always implies duties.
to behave
Also: to act
📝 In Action
Los niños se comportaron muy bien en el cine.
A2The children behaved very well at the cinema.
Tienes que comportarte como un adulto.
A2You have to behave like an adult.
¿Por qué te comportas así conmigo?
B1Why are you acting like that with me?
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: comportar
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence means 'The child behaved well'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From Latin 'comportare,' which means 'to carry together' or 'to collect.' Over time, it shifted from physically carrying things to the way a person 'carries' themselves or what a situation 'carries' with it.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'comportar' mean the same as 'portarse'?
Yes! When talking about behavior, 'comportarse' and 'portarse' are almost identical and interchangeable. 'Portarse' is slightly more common in everyday conversation, while 'comportarse' is a bit more formal.
Can I use 'comportar' to mean carrying bags?
No. Even though it sounds like 'carry,' it is only used for abstract things like consequences or behavior. To carry physical items, use 'llevar' or 'cargar'.
What is the difference between 'comportar' and 'conllevar'?
They are very similar. Both mean 'to entail.' However, 'conllevar' is used exclusively for consequences, while 'comportar' can also be used for behavior if you add the reflexive pronouns.