pertenecer
“pertenecer” means “to belong” in Spanish (to be part of a group, team, or organization).
to belong
Also: to be a member of, to belong to
📝 In Action
Yo pertenezco a este club de lectura.
B1I belong to this book club.
Este libro pertenece a la biblioteca pública.
B1This book belongs to the public library.
María pertenece a una familia de músicos.
B2Maria comes from a family of musicians (belongs to a family of musicians).
¿A qué categoría pertenece este producto?
B2What category does this product belong to?
Los documentos pertenecen al departamento de recursos humanos.
B1The documents belong to the human resources department.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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Words that translate to "pertenecer" in Spanish:
to belong→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: pertenecer
Question 1 of 2
Which preposition must follow 'pertenecer'?
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👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From Latin 'pertinēre' meaning 'to pertain' or 'to belong to.' The Latin word comes from 'per-' (completely) and 'tenere' (to hold). So originally it meant 'to hold completely' or 'to be connected to.'
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'pertenecer' a regular verb?
Yes! 'pertenecer' is a completely regular -er verb. It follows the same pattern as other -er verbs like 'comer' or 'beber.' The only irregularity is that 'pertenecer' adds -zc- in some forms (yo pertenezco) - this is called a 'verb stem change' and makes it slightly special, but all the endings are regular.
What's the difference between 'pertenecer' and 'ser de'?
Both can mean 'to belong to,' but they're used differently. 'Pertenecer a' emphasizes being part of a group or having membership: 'Pertenezco al club de fútbol' (I belong to the soccer club). 'Ser de' is more about ownership: 'Este libro es de María' (This book belongs to / is Mary's). In many cases, they're interchangeable, but 'pertenecer' sounds more formal.
Can I use 'pertenecer' for things that are owned?
Yes! 'pertenecer' works for both people AND things: 'Esta casa pertenece a mis padres' (This house belongs to my parents), 'El coche pertenece a la empresa' (The car belongs to the company). It's very common in formal or written Spanish when discussing ownership.