crece
“crece” means “grows” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
grows, gets bigger
Also: is growing
📝 In Action
Mi hijo ya tiene diez años y crece muy rápido.
A1My son is already ten years old and grows very fast.
¿Ves esa planta? Crece hacia la luz del sol.
A2Do you see that plant? It grows toward the sunlight.
Usted crece cada día como persona, lo felicito.
B1You (formal) grow every day as a person, I congratulate you.
increases, expands
Also: rises
📝 In Action
La demanda de energía solar crece cada año.
B1The demand for solar energy increases every year.
Cuando llueve mucho, el río crece y puede inundar la zona.
B1When it rains a lot, the river rises and can flood the area.
El negocio crece lentamente, pero de forma constante.
B2The business expands slowly, but steadily.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: crece
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'crece' to mean 'increase'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb *crescere*, meaning 'to spring up, grow, increase.' It has always been associated with movement toward a larger state, whether physical or abstract.
First recorded: 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'crecer' have 'zc' in some forms but not others?
This is a small irregularity common in Spanish verbs ending in -cer or -cir. The 'c' changes to 'zc' only in the 'yo' form of the present indicative ('yo crezco') and in all forms of the present subjunctive. This change is necessary to maintain the soft 's' sound of the verb's root across all tenses.
Can I use 'crece' to talk about getting older?
Yes, absolutely! While 'hacerse mayor' or 'cumplir años' are common for aging, 'crecer' implies maturing or developing over time. You can say 'Él crece con cada experiencia' (He grows/matures with every experience).