Inklingo

How to Say "get married" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “get married” is “casarse” — use this reflexive verb when talking about the general act or desire of getting married, often in subordinate clauses or when expressing someone else's wish for it to happen..

English → Spanish

casarse

/KAH-seh//ˈka.se/

VerbA2General
Use this reflexive verb when talking about the general act or desire of getting married, often in subordinate clauses or when expressing someone else's wish for it to happen.
A person's hand sliding a golden wedding ring onto the ring finger of another person's hand.

Examples

Mi madre quiere que me case con un buen hombre.

My mother wants me to marry a good man.

No creo que ella se case tan joven.

I don't think she will marry so young.

Por favor, oficial, case a la pareja inmediatamente.

Please, officer, marry the couple immediately. (Formal command)

Subjunctive Mood

The form 'case' is used when expressing desire, doubt, emotion, or necessity about someone marrying. This is the special verb form (subjunctive) Spanish uses when the main part of the sentence expresses uncertainty or influence.

Formal Commands

'Case' is also the formal way to tell one person (usted) to perform the action of marrying, often used by a superior or in a ceremony.

Forgetting 'se'

Mistake: “Espero que él case.”

Correction: Espero que él se case. (The verb is usually 'casarse' when the subject is the one getting married, meaning 'to marry oneself.')

cásate

/KAH-sah-teh//ˈkasate/

VerbA2Informal
This is the imperative (command) form of 'casarse', used when directly asking or telling someone you know well to marry you or someone else.
A happy couple in wedding attire holding hands under a floral archway.

Examples

Cásate conmigo, por favor.

Marry me, please.

No te cásate solo por dinero; cásate por amor.

Don't get married just for money; get married for love.

¡Cásate ya y deja de pensarlo tanto!

Just get married already and stop overthinking it!

The attached 'te'

The word 'te' is stuck to the end because it is a command. It shows that you are the one performing the action of 'marrying yourself' to someone else.

Why the accent mark?

When we add 'te' to the word 'casa,' we have to add an accent mark (á) to keep the stress on the same part of the word: KAH-sah-teh.

Missing the accent

Mistake: “casate”

Correction: cásate

Wrong 'you' form

Mistake: “cásate conmigo (to a boss)”

Correction: cásese conmigo (to show respect)

Imperative vs. General Verb Form

Learners often confuse the imperative 'cásate' with the general verb 'casarse'. Remember that 'cásate' is a direct command or strong suggestion, while 'casarse' is used for descriptions or indirect wishes about marriage.

Related Translations

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