ponerse
“ponerse” means “to put on” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
to put on
Also: to slip into
📝 In Action
Me voy a poner el sombrero antes de salir.
A1I'm going to put on the hat before leaving.
¿Por qué no te pones la bufanda? Hace frío.
A2Why don't you put on the scarf? It's cold.
to become, to get
Also: to turn
📝 In Action
Cuando escuchó la noticia, se puso muy triste.
A2When she heard the news, she became very sad.
Siempre me pongo nervioso antes de un examen.
A2I always get nervous before an exam.
Mi hermano se puso enfermo después de la fiesta.
B1My brother got sick after the party.
to set
Also: to go down
📝 In Action
El sol se pone detrás de las montañas a las ocho.
B1The sun sets behind the mountains at eight o'clock.
Vimos cómo se ponía el sol en la playa.
B1We watched the sun set on the beach.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: ponerse
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'ponerse' to describe an emotional change?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The verb 'ponerse' literally means 'to put oneself' or 'to place oneself.' It comes directly from the Latin verb *ponere* (to put, to place). The addition of the reflexive pronoun 'se' shifts the focus from placing an external object to placing something on oneself (clothing) or placing oneself into a state (emotion).
First recorded: Old Spanish
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'poner' and 'ponerse'?
'Poner' means to place or put an object somewhere (e.g., 'I put the book on the table'). 'Ponerse' is reflexive, meaning the action comes back to the subject. It means either 'to put something on oneself' (like clothes) or 'to put oneself into a state' (like becoming sad or sick).
When should I use 'ponerse' instead of 'hacerse' or 'volverse' to mean 'to become'?
'Ponerse' is best for quick, temporary, or sudden changes (especially moods and feelings). 'Volverse' is for more permanent or profound changes (like changing personality). 'Hacerse' is for changes achieved through effort or time (like becoming a doctor).