pertenecen
“pertenecen” means “they belong” in Spanish (referring to objects or people).
they belong, you all belong
Also: they are part of, they pertain to
📝 In Action
Esas herramientas pertenecen a mi padre.
A2Those tools belong to my father.
Ellos pertenecen al club de ajedrez de la universidad.
B1They belong to the university's chess club.
Señores, ¿a qué equipo pertenecen ustedes?
B1Gentlemen, which team do you all belong to?
Los documentos importantes pertenecen al archivo principal.
B2The important documents pertain to the main archive.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "pertenecen" in Spanish:
they belong→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: pertenecen
Question 1 of 2
Which English phrase correctly translates 'Estos objetos no pertenecen a nadie'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word *pertinēre*, meaning 'to reach, extend to, or pertain to.' The meaning evolved in Spanish to focus specifically on the idea of ownership or being relevant to something.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'pertenecer' used only for physical possession?
'Pertenecer' is used for both physical possession (e.g., 'the car belongs to them') and abstract membership (e.g., 'they belong to a political party' or 'those ideas belong to the Renaissance').
How do I know if 'pertenecen' means 'they' or 'you all'?
You need context. If you just finished addressing a group of people with 'Señores' or 'Ustedes', it means 'you all'. If the subject is 'los niños' or 'las ideas', it means 'they'.