crece
/KREH-seh/
grows
A plant crece (grows) taller and taller.
crece(Verb)
grows
?physical size or height
,gets bigger
?physical size
is growing
?present continuous action
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
The Irregular 'Yo' Form
The verb 'crecer' is almost regular, but the 'yo' form in the present tense (and all subjunctive forms) changes the 'c' to 'zc': 'yo crezco'. This sound change keeps the pronunciation consistent.
Using 'Crece'
'Crece' is used when talking about a singular person, animal, or thing (él, ella, usted, or it) doing the action right now, or as a command to a friend ('tú' form).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the 'zc' change
Mistake: "Using 'Yo creco' instead of 'Yo crezco'."
Correction: Always remember the 'zc' change for the 'yo' form and all forms that use the same stem (like the subjunctive): 'Yo crezco' (I grow).
⭐ Usage Tips
Quick Check
Think of 'crece' whenever you would use 'it grows' or 'he/she grows' in English. It’s one of the most reliable present tense forms.
The quantity of apples crece (increases).
crece(Verb)
increases
?numbers or statistics
,expands
?market or business
rises
?water level or intensity
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Used for Statistics
In Spanish, 'crecer' is often used where English might use 'increase' or 'go up,' particularly when talking about population, markets, or abstract concepts.
⭐ Usage Tips
Economic Context
Use 'crece' when talking about positive economic development, like 'la economía crece' (the economy grows/expands).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: crece
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'crece' to mean 'increase'?
📚 More Resources
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).