unirse
/oo-NEER-seh/
to join
When you unirse to a team, you join the group.
unirse(verb)
to join
?joining a group, team, or organization
,to become a member
?signing up for a club
to enlist
?military or service
📝 In Action
¿Quieres unirte a nuestro grupo de estudio?
A2Do you want to join our study group?
Me uní al equipo el mes pasado.
B1I joined the team last month.
💡 Grammar Points
The Reflexive 'Se'
Because 'unir' (to unite something else) becomes 'unirse' (to unite oneself), you must include the little pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os) that matches the subject doing the action.
Using 'A' after Unirse
When you join something, you almost always use the preposition 'a' (to/at) right after the verb: 'Me uno al club' (I join the club). Remember 'al' is the short form of 'a el'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Reflexive Pronoun
Mistake: "Yo uno el grupo."
Correction: Yo *me uno* al grupo. ('Yo uno' means 'I unite something else,' not 'I join.')
⭐ Usage Tips
Focus on Participation
'Unirse' emphasizes becoming an active part of a whole, rather than just meeting up (which is 'reunirse').
Nations and people unirse to unite for a common goal.
unirse(verb)
to unite
?nations, people, or groups collaborating
,to come together
?working toward a common goal
to merge
?companies or organizations
📝 In Action
Es crucial que todos los vecinos se unan para limpiar el parque.
B1It is crucial that all the neighbors unite to clean the park.
Las dos empresas se unieron el año pasado.
B2The two companies merged last year.
💡 Grammar Points
The Meaning of Plural Reflexive
When used with 'nosotros' (we) or 'ellos' (they), 'unirse' often describes a reciprocal action—they are uniting with each other.
⭐ Usage Tips
Political Context
This meaning is often used when discussing political solidarity or international agreements: 'Los países se unieron contra la amenaza.'
Structural elements like pipes unirse when they connect.
unirse(verb)
to connect
?pipes, cables, or structural elements
,to link up
?paths or roads
to adhere
?materials sticking together
📝 In Action
Las dos carreteras principales se unen justo después del puente.
B2The two main roads connect right after the bridge.
Asegúrate de que los cables se unan firmemente.
C1Make sure the cables connect firmly.
💡 Grammar Points
Passive Voice Alternative
Spanish often uses the reflexive form ('se une') where English might use the passive voice ('is connected'). It’s a very natural way to describe how things come together without naming the person who did the connecting.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: unirse
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'unirse' to mean 'to become a member'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'unir' and 'unirse'?
'Unir' is non-reflexive and means 'to unite or join two separate things' (e.g., 'I join the cables'). 'Unirse' is reflexive and means 'to join *oneself*' to something (e.g., 'I join the team') or 'to come together mutually' (e.g., 'The countries unite').
How do I say 'join us' using the command form?
For a friendly command (tú), you would say '¡Únete a nosotros!' The reflexive pronoun 'te' attaches to the end of the verb and changes to 'te' in the affirmative command.