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constituir

kon-stee-twee-r/konstituˈir/

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

to constitute, to make up

Also: to form
VerbB1irregular ir
Several colorful wooden building blocks fitting together to form a solid cube.
gerundconstituyendo
infinitiveconstituir
past Participleconstituido

📝 In Action

Las pequeñas empresas constituyen la base de la economía local.

B1

Small businesses make up the foundation of the local economy.

Estos elementos constituyen el 90% de la atmósfera del planeta.

B2

These elements constitute 90% of the planet's atmosphere.

Los jóvenes constituyen la mayor parte de nuestra audiencia.

B1

Young people make up the majority of our audience.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • constituir la base – to form the basis
  • constituir una parte – to make up a part

to establish, to incorporate

Also: to set up
VerbB2irregular irformal
A group of people shaking hands in front of a new small building with a ribbon being cut.
gerundconstituyendo
infinitiveconstituir
past Participleconstituido

📝 In Action

Los socios decidieron constituir una empresa de tecnología.

B2

The partners decided to establish a technology company.

Se constituyó un comité para investigar el asunto.

B2

A committee was set up to investigate the matter.

La asociación quedó oficialmente constituida el año pasado.

C1

The association was officially incorporated last year.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • constituir una sociedad – to form a company/partnership
  • constituir un fondo – to set up a fund
  • constituir un grupo – to set up a group

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

present

yoconstituya
nosotrosconstituyamos
vosotrosconstituyáis
él/ella/ustedconstituya
ellos/ellas/ustedesconstituyan
túconstituyas

imperfect

yoconstituyera
nosotrosconstituyéramos
vosotrosconstituyerais
él/ella/ustedconstituyera
ellos/ellas/ustedesconstituyeran
túconstituyeras

indicative

present

yoconstituyo
nosotrosconstituimos
vosotrosconstituís
él/ella/ustedconstituye
ellos/ellas/ustedesconstituyen
túconstituyes

preterite

yoconstituí
nosotrosconstituimos
vosotrosconstituisteis
él/ella/ustedconstituyó
ellos/ellas/ustedesconstituyeron
túconstituiste

imperfect

yoconstituía
nosotrosconstituíamos
vosotrosconstituíais
él/ella/ustedconstituía
ellos/ellas/ustedesconstituían
túconstituías
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "constituir" in Spanish:

to constitute→to establish→to form→to incorporate→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: constituir

Question 1 of 3

Which form of 'constituir' is correct for 'I constitute' (Present tense)?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
constitución(constitution) — Noun
constitucional(constitutional) — Adjective
constituyente(constituent/founding) — Adjective
reconstituir(to reconstitute) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'constituere', meaning 'to set up' or 'to place together'. It combines 'con-' (together) and 'statuere' (to set/stand).

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: constituteFrench: constituer

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'constituir' irregular?

Yes, it has a spelling change where 'i' becomes 'y' in many forms (like 'constituyo' and 'constituyó') to prevent having an unpronounced 'i' between vowels.

What is the difference between 'formar' and 'constituir'?

'Formar' is very general and used in daily life. 'Constituir' is more formal and often implies a legal or official status.

Can I use it to mean 'to build'?

No. Use 'construir' for physical construction (like a house). Use 'constituir' for organizations, laws, or components of a whole.