especializar
“especializar” means “to specialize” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to specializeAlso: to major in
📝 In Action
Ella decidió especializarse en medicina deportiva.
B1She decided to specialize in sports medicine.
Es mejor especializarse para conseguir un mejor empleo.
B1It is better to specialize to get a better job.
Nuestra empresa se especializa en software educativo.
B2Our company specializes in educational software.
Word Connections
to tailor/design
📝 In Action
Queremos especializar nuestra oferta para el mercado joven.
B2We want to tailor our offer for the young market.
El hospital decidió especializar una planta en pediatría.
C1The hospital decided to dedicate a floor specifically to pediatrics.
Es necesario especializar al personal para manejar la nueva máquina.
C1It is necessary to give the staff specialized training to operate the new machine.
Word Connections
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "especializar" in Spanish:
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: especializar
Question 1 of 3
How do you say 'I specialized' (past tense) in Spanish?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family
📚 Etymology
From the Latin word 'specialis', meaning 'individual' or 'particular'. It entered Spanish to describe the process of making something specific or focusing on one part of a whole.
First recorded: 19th century
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'especializar' always reflexive?
No. Use 'especializarse' (with me/te/se) when talking about yourself or someone focusing their studies. Use 'especializar' alone when a company is focusing its products or training its staff.
What is the difference between 'especialista' and 'especializado'?
An 'especialista' is the person (the specialist), while 'especializado' is an adjective used to describe something that is specialized, like a 'hospital especializado'.
Can I use 'especializar' for hobbies?
You can, but it sounds very formal. For hobbies, people usually just say 'me gusta mucho' or 'soy experto en'.