criar
/kree-AR/
to raise
Criar means "to raise" (children or offspring).
criar(verb)
to raise
?children, offspring
,to bring up
?education, nurturing
to nurse
?infant care (less common than 'amamantar')
📝 In Action
Ellos criaron a tres hijos en el campo.
A1They raised three children in the countryside.
¿Quién te crió? ¿Tu abuela?
A2Who brought you up? Your grandmother?
💡 Grammar Points
The Stress on the 'i'
Notice the accent mark over the 'i' in the present tense (crío, crías, cría, crían). This is because the stress falls on the 'i', separating it from the 'a'. This is why it acts like a regular verb but looks a little irregular!
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Criar' and 'Crear'
Mistake: "Using 'crear' when you mean 'to raise' ('Yo creo mis hijos')."
Correction: Use 'criar' (Yo crío mis hijos). 'Crear' means 'to create' (like art or a new idea).
⭐ Usage Tips
Focus on Nurturing
Use 'criar' when the action involves feeding, caring for, and guiding someone or something through their early life.
Criar means "to breed" (animals for profit).
criar(verb)
to breed
?animals for profit
,to rear
?livestock
to farm
?in the sense of raising animals
📝 In Action
En esta región crían ganado para exportación.
B1In this region, they breed cattle for export.
Mi tío cría gallinas y patos en su granja.
B1My uncle rears chickens and ducks on his farm.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
When used with animals, 'criar' usually implies commercial or large-scale raising, rather than just keeping a pet.
Criar refers to the process of "to grow up" or mature during childhood.
criar(verb)
to grow up
?referring to one's childhood
,to be raised
?where development took place
to form
?of habits or character (less common)
📝 In Action
Yo me crié en la costa, cerca del mar.
A2I grew up on the coast, near the sea. (Literally: I raised myself/was raised on the coast.)
¿Dónde se criaron tus padres?
A2Where did your parents grow up?
Se crían muy mal acostumbrados.
B2They are being raised with very bad habits.
💡 Grammar Points
The Reflexive 'Se'
When you add 'se' (criarse), the focus shifts from who did the raising to where/how the subject developed. It’s like saying 'I was raised' without needing to name the person who did the raising.
⭐ Usage Tips
Talking About Childhood
Use 'me crié' (I grew up) instead of 'yo crecí' when you want to emphasize the place or environment of your upbringing, not just the physical act of getting taller.
Criar can mean "to produce" or "generate" (something undesirable, like rust or trouble).
criar(verb)
to produce
?generate something undesirable
,to generate
?e.g., mold, dust
to cause
?e.g., trouble
📝 In Action
La falta de ventilación cría humedad y malos olores.
C1Lack of ventilation produces humidity and bad smells.
Ese ambiente cría mucha envidia entre los compañeros.
C2That environment generates a lot of envy among colleagues.
⭐ Usage Tips
Figurative Use
Think of this meaning as 'giving birth' to a situation or problem. It's often used when talking about conditions that naturally lead to an outcome (like mold or bad feelings).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: criar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses the reflexive form of 'criar'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'criar' an irregular verb?
No, 'criar' is mostly regular. It follows the standard '-ar' verb pattern. However, it requires an accent mark on the 'i' in the singular present tense (crío, cría) and the present subjunctive (críe) to show that the stress falls there, which can make it look a little different than simple regular verbs.
How do I say 'to create' in Spanish if 'criar' means 'to raise'?
If you mean 'to create' something new, like art, a document, or a theory, the correct verb is 'crear' (e.g., Yo creé este dibujo - I created this drawing). 'Criar' is almost always about nurturing life.