vestir
/ves-TIR/
to dress
Vestir: When you dress someone else, like a parent dressing a child.
vestir(Verb)
to dress
?to put clothes on someone else
,to clothe
?formal/literary
to attire
?formal
📝 In Action
La niñera tiene que vestir a los gemelos antes de las ocho.
A1The nanny has to dress the twins before eight o'clock.
Mi abuela me vistió para mi primera comunión.
A2My grandmother dressed me for my first communion.
💡 Grammar Points
Stem-Changing Verb (e > i)
In many forms, the 'e' in the middle of the verb stem changes to an 'i'. For example, 'yo visto' (I dress), not 'yo vesto'. This happens whenever the stress falls on the stem.
The 'Nosotros/Vosotros' Exception
The 'e > i' change is skipped for the 'we' (nosotros) and informal 'you all' (vosotros) forms in the present tense. We say 'vestimos', not 'vistimos'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Vestir' and 'Llevar'
Mistake: "Using 'vestir' when you mean 'to wear' a specific item (e.g., *Yo visto una camisa*)."
Correction: Use 'llevar' or 'ponerse' for wearing items: 'Yo llevo una camisa' (I wear a shirt). Use 'vestir' for the action of dressing someone or describing a style.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use for Style
You can use this meaning to describe how someone dresses generally: 'Ella viste muy elegante' (She dresses very elegantly).
Vestir: When you get dressed, putting clothes on yourself.
vestir(Verb)
to get dressed
?putting clothes on oneself
,to dress oneself
?explicitly emphasizing the subject
to put on one's clothes
?describing the action
📝 In Action
Me visto rápidamente todas las mañanas para ir al trabajo.
A1I get dressed quickly every morning to go to work.
Mi hijo ya puede vestirse solo, no necesita ayuda.
A2My son can already dress himself, he doesn't need help.
¿A qué hora te vas a vestir para la fiesta?
B1What time are you going to get dressed for the party?
💡 Grammar Points
The Reflexive Pronoun
When you dress yourself, you must use a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os, se). This pronoun shows that the action comes back to the person doing it.
Pronoun Placement
The pronoun usually goes before the conjugated verb ('Me visto') or attached to the end of the infinitive ('Voy a vestirme').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Reflexive Pronoun
Mistake: "Saying 'Yo visto' when you mean 'I get dressed'."
Correction: If you are dressing yourself, you must say 'Yo me visto'. 'Yo visto' means 'I dress someone else'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Daily Routine Vocabulary
Memorize 'vestirse' as a key part of talking about your daily routine, along with 'despertarse' (to wake up) and 'ducharse' (to shower).
Vestir: Used to describe what a person is wearing or dressed in.
vestir(Verb)
to wear
?to be dressed in a certain color/style
,to drape
?to cover or decorate a space
to dress (in a uniform)
?describing mandatory attire
📝 In Action
Todos los estudiantes visten de azul marino.
B1All the students wear navy blue (uniforms).
La sala estaba vestida de flores blancas para la boda.
B2The room was draped/decorated with white flowers for the wedding.
Ese actor siempre viste ropa de diseñador.
B1That actor always wears designer clothes.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'De' for Color/Style
When describing the color or material of clothing someone is wearing, 'vestir' is often followed by the preposition 'de' (e.g., 'vestir de negro').
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing Spaces
In a figurative sense, 'vestir' can describe how a room or table is decorated or covered, giving it a stylish look.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
preterite
present
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: vestir
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses the reflexive form of 'vestir' (vestirse)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'vestir' and 'llevar' when talking about clothes?
'Vestir' means 'to dress' (the action of putting clothes on someone else) or 'to dress in a certain style.' 'Llevar' is the standard verb for 'to wear' a specific item of clothing or accessory (e.g., 'Llevo un sombrero' — I am wearing a hat).
Why does the 'nosotros' form not change its stem (e.g., vestimos, not vistimos)?
In Spanish stem-changing verbs, the 'we' (nosotros) and 'you all' (vosotros) forms usually skip the irregular change. This is because the stress of the word falls outside of the verb stem in those two forms.