Inklingo

How to Say "look like" in Spanish

English → Spanish

parecen

pah-REH-sen/paˈɾeθen/

VerbB1General
Use 'parecen' when describing that people or things physically resemble each other.
Two perfectly identical, shiny red apples are placed close together on a plain wooden table, clearly resembling each other.

Examples

Mis hermanos gemelos se parecen mucho.

My twin brothers look a lot alike.

Dicen que sus hijos parecen a la abuela.

They say that their children look like their grandmother.

Estas casas nuevas parecen a las de hace veinte años.

These new houses look like the ones from twenty years ago.

The Necessary 'A'

When 'parecen' means 'to look like' another person or thing, it must be followed immediately by the preposition 'a': 'Parecen a la abuela'.

parezca

pah-REH-skah/paˈɾeθka/

VerbB1General
Use 'parezca' when expressing an opinion or possibility about how something seems or appears, often with a subjunctive mood.
A storybook illustration showing a small child standing on a grassy hill, looking toward a large, indistinct gray shape shrouded in thick morning mist on the horizon, conveying visual uncertainty.

Examples

No me gusta cómo me parezca este vestido.

I don't like how this dress looks on me.

No creo que parezca tan difícil.

I don't think it seems that difficult.

Espero que mi regalo le parezca bien.

I hope my gift looks good to him/her.

Dudo que usted parezca un buen candidato para el puesto.

I doubt that you (formal) look like a good candidate for the job.

The Subjunctive Mood

This form ('parezca') is used when the speaker expresses wishes, doubts, emotions, or judgments about the action of seeming. It emphasizes that the 'seeming' is subjective or uncertain.

Irregular 'zc' Change

The base verb 'parecer' is irregular in its 'yo' form (parezco). All subjunctive forms, including 'parezca,' are built from this irregular 'yo' stem.

Mixing Indicative and Subjunctive

Mistake: “No creo que parece tan difícil.”

Correction: No creo que parezca tan difícil. (When expressing doubt, you must use the special subjunctive form.)

Resemblance vs. Impression

Learners often confuse 'parecen' (resemblance) with 'parezca' (impression/possibility). Remember that 'parecen' is for direct comparison of appearance, while 'parezca' (often in the subjunctive) deals with how something seems or is perceived.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.