establecer
/es-ta-ble-SÉR/
to establish
Establecer (to establish): Setting up a new foundation or system.
establecer(verb)
to establish
?a rule, organization, or system
,to set up
?a business or foundation
to found
?a company or institution
,to create
?a policy
📝 In Action
El gobierno quiere establecer nuevas leyes de tráfico.
A2The government wants to establish new traffic laws.
Decidieron establecer una sucursal en Madrid el año pasado.
B1They decided to set up a branch office in Madrid last year.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'ZC' Change
This verb is slightly irregular. When the 'yo' form of the present tense and all forms of the present subjunctive are used, the 'c' changes to 'zc' (e.g., establezco, establezca). This is a very common pattern for verbs ending in -ecer.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the 'ZC'
Mistake: "Yo estableco"
Correction: Yo establezco. Remember that 'zc' is needed to keep the pronunciation consistent before the 'o' or 'a'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Tone
Use 'establecer' when you want to sound formal, professional, or official. For simple setups, 'montar' or 'abrir' might be used, but 'establecer' is more serious.
Establecer (to determine): Fixing a final value or price.
establecer(verb)
to determine
?a price or value
,to fix
?a date or time
to ascertain
?a fact or truth
,to set
?a limit or standard
📝 In Action
Necesitamos establecer la causa exacta del problema.
B1We need to determine the exact cause of the problem.
El comité estableció el precio máximo para las entradas.
C1The committee fixed the maximum price for the tickets.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with Abstract Nouns
This meaning often pairs with abstract ideas like 'la verdad' (the truth), 'la conexión' (the connection), or 'la diferencia' (the difference).
Establecer (to settle down): Making a place a permanent home.
establecer(verb)
to settle down
?to live permanently in a place
to take up residence
?in a city or country
📝 In Action
Después de viajar mucho, decidieron establecerse en la costa.
B1After traveling a lot, they decided to settle down on the coast.
Me establecí aquí hace diez años y ya no me muevo.
B2I settled here ten years ago and I'm not moving anymore.
💡 Grammar Points
The Reflexive 'Se'
When you add 'se' (establecerse), the verb's meaning changes from acting on an external object (setting up a business) to acting on the subject itself (setting oneself up).
⭐ Usage Tips
Focus on Permanence
Use 'establecerse' to imply a long-term or permanent move, not just a temporary stay.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: establecer
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'establecer' in its reflexive form (establecerse)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'establecer' a stem-changing verb?
No, it is not a typical stem-changing verb (like 'pensar' changing 'e' to 'ie'). However, it does have an irregularity: the 'c' changes to 'zc' in the 'yo' form of the present tense and throughout the present subjunctive mood. This is a common pattern for many -cer/-cir verbs.
When should I use 'establecer' versus 'crear'?
Use 'establecer' when you are setting up something official, permanent, or systematic (a government, a rule, a relationship). Use 'crear' for making something new, often more artistic or spontaneous (a drawing, a piece of software, a story).