nacer
/nah-SEHR/
to be born
The literal meaning of "nacer" is "to be born," representing the start of life.
nacer(verb)
to be born
?start of life
to come into the world
?poetic description
📝 In Action
Mi hermana nació en 1995.
A1My sister was born in 1995.
¿Dónde naciste tú?
A1Where were you born?
Ella está a punto de nacer.
A2She is about to be born.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'zc' Change
In the present tense, the 'yo' form changes from 'c' to 'zc' (nazco). This is a common pattern for verbs ending in -cer or -cir, and it helps keep the soft 's' sound consistent.
Use with 'Ser'
Unlike English ('to be born'), Spanish uses the verb 'nacer' by itself. You don't need 'ser' or 'estar' before it. Just say 'Yo nací' (I was born).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Tense
Mistake: "¿Cuándo nacías?"
Correction: ¿Cuándo naciste?
⭐ Usage Tips
Location of Birth
Always use the preposition 'en' (in/at) when stating the location of birth: 'Nací en Madrid' (I was born in Madrid).
"Nacer" can also figuratively mean the start of an idea or project, like a lightbulb turning on.
nacer(verb)
to be born
?fig: start of an idea or project
,to arise
?fig: referring to a feeling
to begin
?start of an era
📝 In Action
La idea de la aplicación nació en una cafetería.
B1The idea for the app was born in a coffee shop.
Una nueva esperanza nació después de la victoria.
B2A new hope arose after the victory.
💡 Grammar Points
Impersonal Subject
In this figurative sense, the 'subject' doing the 'nacer' is usually an inanimate thing (like an idea or a movement), not a person. The verb agrees with that thing.
When used to mean "to originate," "nacer" refers to the source, such as where a river begins.
nacer(verb)
to originate
?source of a river or tradition
to spring forth
?describing water or light
📝 In Action
El río Amazonas nace en los Andes peruanos.
B2The Amazon River originates in the Peruvian Andes.
Esta tradición nació de una antigua leyenda.
C1This tradition originated from an ancient legend.
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Context
Use this meaning primarily when describing geographical features (like rivers or mountain ranges) or the deep historical roots of culture.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: nacer
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'nacer' in its most literal sense?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'nacer' mean 'to be born' or 'to give birth'?
'Nacer' strictly means 'to be born.' It describes the beginning of life for the subject. To say 'to give birth,' you would use the verb 'dar a luz' (literally, 'to give to light').
Why does 'nacer' use the preterite tense (nací) when talking about birth dates?
Birth is viewed as a single, completed action in the past with a definite date, so Spanish uses the preterite tense (nací, naciste) instead of the imperfect tense.