ponerte
/poh-NEHR-teh/
to put on (clothing or accessories)
Visualizing 'to put on (clothing or accessories)': The action of dressing oneself.
ponerte(Verb)
to put on (clothing or accessories)
?action of dressing oneself
to wear
?describing the action
📝 In Action
Necesitas ponerte un abrigo porque hace frío.
A1You need to put on a coat because it is cold.
¿Vas a ponerte esos zapatos nuevos para la fiesta?
A2Are you going to put on those new shoes for the party?
Antes de salir, asegúrate de ponerte protector solar.
B1Before leaving, make sure to put on sunscreen.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Te' is You
The 'te' attached to the end means the action is being done to or for 'tú' (you, informal). 'Ponerte' literally means 'to put on yourself'.
Infinitive + Pronoun
When a verb is in its base form (infinitive, like 'poner'), the little pronoun ('te', 'se', 'me') is usually attached directly to the end, forming one word.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the 'te'
Mistake: "Usando 'Necesitas poner un sombrero.'"
Correction: Say 'Necesitas ponerte un sombrero.' If you forget 'te', it means 'You need to place a hat (somewhere else),' not 'put it on your head.'
⭐ Usage Tips
Quick Action
Use 'ponerte' for the quick action of placing an item of clothing on your body, contrasted with 'llevar' (to wear/have on).
Visualizing 'to become': Indicating a change in state, such as color or mood.
ponerte(Verb)
to become
?to change state (e.g., color, mood)
to get
?to get angry, to get nervous
📝 In Action
No quiero que vayas a ponerte triste por esto.
B1I don't want you to become sad because of this.
Si comes demasiado chocolate, vas a ponerte enfermo.
B1If you eat too much chocolate, you are going to get sick.
Al hablar en público, es normal ponerte nervioso.
B2When speaking in public, it is normal to get nervous.
💡 Grammar Points
Temporary Changes Only
'Ponerse' is used for quick, temporary changes in mood, health, or appearance (like getting sad, blushing, or getting sick). If the change is permanent or professional, use 'ser' or 'hacerse'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up 'Ponerse' and 'Estar'
Mistake: "Usando 'Vas a estar enojado.'"
Correction: Say 'Vas a ponerte enojado.' While 'estar' describes the state (being angry), 'ponerse' describes the action of *entering* that state (getting angry).
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with Adjectives
You almost always follow 'ponerte' with an adjective that describes the resulting state: ponerte [adjective] (e.g., nervioso, feliz, pálido).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: ponerte
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'ponerte' to mean 'to become'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'ponerte' have the 'te' at the end instead of before the verb?
In Spanish, when a verb is in its basic, unconjugated form (the infinitive), the little pronoun that tells you who is doing the action to themselves ('me,' 'te,' 'se,' etc.) is usually attached directly to the end, forming one single word. This is also common with commands.
How do I use 'ponerte' in a sentence that is already conjugated?
If you conjugate the main verb, the 'te' moves to the front: 'Yo *voy a ponerte* un sombrero' (I am going to put a hat on you) vs. 'Tú *te pones* un sombrero' (You put a hat on yourself). The 'te' always tells you the action affects 'tú'.