situar
“situar” means “to place” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to place, to locate
Also: to position
📝 In Action
Queremos situar el sofá cerca de la ventana.
A1We want to place the sofa near the window.
El arquitecto decidió situar la entrada principal en esta calle.
B1The architect decided to locate the main entrance on this street.
Debes situar las piezas con mucho cuidado.
B2You must position the pieces very carefully.
to set
Also: to put in context
📝 In Action
El director situó la película en los años ochenta.
B1The director set the movie in the eighties.
Es necesario situar el conflicto en su marco histórico.
B2It is necessary to put the conflict in its historical context.
La novela se sitúa en un pequeño pueblo de Galicia.
B1The novel is set in a small town in Galicia.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: situar
Question 1 of 3
How do you say 'I place' in Spanish?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From Latin 'situare', which comes from 'situs', meaning 'site' or 'place'.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'situar' always have an accent on the 'u'?
No, it only has an accent when the stress falls on that 'u', like in 'sitúo' or 'sitúan'. You won't find the accent in 'situamos' or the infinitive 'situar'.
What is the difference between 'situar' and 'ubicar'?
They are very similar! 'Ubicar' is more common in Latin America for physical locations, while 'situar' is used everywhere and often used for more abstract contexts like time or history.
Can I use 'situar' for people?
Yes, but usually it sounds like you are physically positioning them (like a photographer positioning models). To say where someone is generally, use 'estar'.