Inklingo

How to Say "to assess" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “to assess” is “evaluar” — use 'evaluar' when you need to judge the quality, performance, or value of something or someone, like a student's progress or a project's success.

evaluar🔊B1

Use 'evaluar' when you need to judge the quality, performance, or value of something or someone, like a student's progress or a project's success.

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valorar🔊B2

Use 'valorar' when the focus is on judging the worth, importance, or significance of something, such as options or contributions.

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juzgar🔊A2

Use 'juzgar' for a more general, often careful, evaluation or judgment, frequently used in moral or opinion-based contexts, like not judging a book by its cover.

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apreciar🔊C1

Use 'apreciar' when assessing changes in value, especially in economics or finance, like a currency increasing in worth.

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calibrar🔊C1

Use 'calibrar' to assess or judge the magnitude, importance, or difficulty of something, like assessing one's own strengths before a challenge.

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diagnosticar🔊B1

Use 'diagnosticar' specifically when assessing a situation to identify its nature or cause, most commonly used in medical or social/economic contexts.

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English → Spanish

evaluar

eh-bah-loo-AHReβaluˈaɾ

verbB1general
Use 'evaluar' when you need to judge the quality, performance, or value of something or someone, like a student's progress or a project's success.
A teacher looking thoughtfully at a student's creative drawing while holding a gold star sticker.

Examples

El profesor va a evaluar nuestro progreso mañana.

The teacher is going to evaluate our progress tomorrow.

Es difícil evaluar esta situación sin toda la información.

It is difficult to assess this situation without all the information.

Debemos evaluar los resultados del experimento con cuidado.

We must evaluate the results of the experiment carefully.

The 'Hidden' Accent

In most versions of the present tense, the 'u' gets a little accent mark (evalúo, evalúa). This tells you to emphasize that 'u' sound instead of sliding past it.

Using 'que' with Evaluar

When you want to say you are evaluating 'if' or 'that' something is true, just add 'que' after the verb: 'Evalúo que es necesario' (I evaluate that it is necessary).

Forget the 'u' accent

Mistake: “Yo evaluo el examen.”

Correction: Yo evalúo el examen. The accent is needed in the 'I', 'you', and 'they' forms to sound natural.

valorar

bah-loh-RAHRbaloˈɾaɾ

verbB2general
Use 'valorar' when the focus is on judging the worth, importance, or significance of something, such as options or contributions.
An expert examining a shiny gemstone with a magnifying glass to judge its quality.

Examples

El jurado tiene que valorar todas las opciones.

The jury has to assess all the options.

Un experto valoró la casa en un millón de euros.

An expert appraised the house at one million euros.

El médico está valorando la gravedad de la herida.

The doctor is assessing the severity of the wound.

Use with 'si' (if)

This word is often used when you are 'thinking over' a decision. For example: 'Estamos valorando si comprar el coche' (We are assessing if we should buy the car).

Confusing with 'evaluar'

Mistake: “El banco va a evaluar mi casa.”

Correction: El banco va a valorar mi casa. (While 'evaluar' is okay, 'valorar' is more common when talking about the financial price tag of something.)

juzgar

hooz-GARxuzˈɣaɾ

verbA2general
Use 'juzgar' for a more general, often careful, evaluation or judgment, frequently used in moral or opinion-based contexts, like not judging a book by its cover.
A thoughtful person holding a red apple in one hand and a green apple in the other, looking intently at them as if evaluating their quality.

Examples

No debes juzgar un libro por su portada.

You shouldn't judge a book by its cover.

¿Quién eres tú para juzgar mi decisión?

Who are you to judge my decision?

Ella juzga a los demás con mucha dureza.

She judges others very harshly.

The '-gar' Spelling Change

When conjugating 'juzgar,' the 'g' changes to 'gu' before an 'e' sound. This happens in the 'yo' form of the past tense (juzgué) and across the entire present subjunctive (juzgue, juzgues, etc.).

Missing the 'u'

Mistake: “Using *juzge* instead of *juzgue* in the subjunctive.”

Correction: Always remember the 'u' after the 'g' in the subjunctive and preterite 'yo' form to keep the hard 'g' sound: *juzgue*.

apreciar

ah-preh-SYAHRapɾeˈsjaɾ

verbC1formal, economic
Use 'apreciar' when assessing changes in value, especially in economics or finance, like a currency increasing in worth.
A small green plant growing out of a pile of gold coins, getting taller.

Examples

La moneda local se ha apreciado frente al dólar.

The local currency has increased in value against the dollar.

calibrar

kah-lee-brarkaliˈβɾaɾ

verbC1general, strategic
Use 'calibrar' to assess or judge the magnitude, importance, or difficulty of something, like assessing one's own strengths before a challenge.
A person looking thoughtful while observing a group of people interacting at a distance.

Examples

Debemos calibrar bien nuestras fuerzas antes del partido.

We must gauge our strengths well before the match.

No supo calibrar el impacto de sus palabras.

He didn't know how to assess the impact of his words.

El político intentaba calibrar la opinión pública.

The politician was trying to gauge public opinion.

Abstract Use

When used for ideas instead of tools, this verb becomes quite formal. It suggests a careful, logical measurement of a situation.

Too literal?

Mistake: “No puedo medir tus sentimientos.”

Correction: In a formal context, use 'calibrar' to sound more sophisticated: 'No puedo calibrar tus sentimientos'.

diagnosticar

dyahg-noh-stee-kardjaɣnostiˈkaɾ

verbB1medical, technical
Use 'diagnosticar' specifically when assessing a situation to identify its nature or cause, most commonly used in medical or social/economic contexts.
A friendly doctor in a white coat using a stethoscope to listen to a teddy bear's heart, illustrating a medical diagnosis.

Examples

El médico necesita más pruebas para diagnosticar la enfermedad.

The doctor needs more tests to diagnose the illness.

Es difícil diagnosticar el problema del coche sin abrir el motor.

It is difficult to identify the car's problem without opening the engine.

Los expertos diagnostican un cambio en el clima económico.

Experts identify a change in the economic climate.

The 'C' to 'QU' Spelling Change

In the past tense 'yo' form and all 'wishing' (subjunctive) forms, the 'c' changes to 'qu' to keep the hard 'k' sound: 'yo diagnostiqué' (I diagnosed).

Direct Action

Unlike English where we often use the passive ('He was diagnosed'), Spanish speakers often prefer the active voice: 'El médico lo diagnosticó' (The doctor diagnosed him).

Using 'con' incorrectly

Mistake: “El médico diagnosticó con gripe.”

Correction: El médico diagnosticó gripe.

General Evaluation vs. Specific Context

Learners often confuse 'evaluar' and 'valorar' with 'juzgar'. While 'juzgar' can mean to judge, 'evaluar' and 'valorar' are typically used for more objective assessments of quality or importance, whereas 'juzgar' often implies a personal opinion or moral consideration.

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