Inklingo

How to Say "to behave" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “to behave” is “portar” — use this when describing how someone, especially children, conducts themselves in a general, everyday manner, often in a social setting.

portar🔊A2

Use this when describing how someone, especially children, conducts themselves in a general, everyday manner, often in a social setting.

Learn more →
comportar🔊A2

This is a very common and versatile translation for 'to behave', used to describe someone's general conduct or actions, particularly in social situations or when evaluating their behavior.

Learn more →
actuar🔊B1

Choose this word when you want to emphasize the action or the way someone carries out a task or responds to a situation, especially in a practical or decisive manner.

Learn more →
obrar🔊B1

Use this translation when referring to actions that are judged by moral standards or ethical principles, focusing on doing good or acting with integrity.

Learn more →
haberse🔊C1

This reflexive verb is used to describe how someone conducted themselves in a specific, often significant or formal, situation, implying a certain bearing or manner.

Learn more →
English → Spanish

portar

por-TARpoɾˈtaɾ

verbA2general
Use this when describing how someone, especially children, conducts themselves in a general, everyday manner, often in a social setting.
A happy child politely handing a flower to an elderly person in a garden.

Examples

Los niños se portan muy bien en la escuela.

The children behave very well at school.

Espero que te portes mejor mañana.

I hope you behave better tomorrow.

Se portó como un verdadero profesional durante la crisis.

He acted like a true professional during the crisis.

The Behaving 'Self'

To mean 'to behave,' you must use reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, os, se). Without these, the word means 'to carry.'

How vs. What

In Spanish, you don't say you 'behave yourself' (the object); you use an adverb to say how you behave, like 'bien' (well) or 'mal' (badly).

Forgetting the Pronoun

Mistake: “El niño porta bien.”

Correction: El niño SE porta bien. You need the 'se' to indicate the action is about the child's own conduct.

comportar

kom-por-TARkomporˈtaɾ

verbA2general
This is a very common and versatile translation for 'to behave', used to describe someone's general conduct or actions, particularly in social situations or when evaluating their behavior.
A child sitting very neatly and politely at a dinner table with hands folded.

Examples

Los niños se comportaron muy bien en el cine.

The children behaved very well at the cinema.

Tienes que comportarte como un adulto.

You have to behave like an adult.

¿Por qué te comportas así conmigo?

Why are you acting like that with me?

The Reflexive 'Se'

To talk about behavior, you MUST use the reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, os, se). Without them, the word means something completely different (to entail).

Always needs a descriptor

In Spanish, you don't just say 'he behaved.' You must say HOW he behaved, usually adding 'bien' (well) or 'mal' (badly).

Forgetting the pronoun

Mistake: “Él comporta bien.”

Correction: Él SE comporta bien.

actuar

ak-TOO-arakˈtwaɾ

verbB1general
Choose this word when you want to emphasize the action or the way someone carries out a task or responds to a situation, especially in a practical or decisive manner.
A close-up of a person's hands wearing work gloves firmly pulling down a large red lever.

Examples

Cuando hay una emergencia, hay que actuar sin dudar.

When there is an emergency, one must act without hesitation.

El abogado tiene derecho a actuar en nombre de su cliente.

The lawyer has the right to act on behalf of their client.

Mi perro actuó muy mal con la visita.

My dog behaved very badly with the visitors.

Simple Conjugation Rule

Even though 'actuar' looks regular, remember that an accent mark appears on the 'u' (actúo, actúa, actúe) in most present tense forms to make the pronunciation clear and put stress on that syllable.

Mixing up 'Actuar' and 'Hacer'

Mistake: “Using 'hacer' when you mean 'to behave' or 'to take action' in a general sense.”

Correction: 'Actuar' is better for deliberate actions or behavior; 'hacer' is usually for specific tasks ('hacer la tarea').

obrar

oh-BRARoˈβɾaɾ

verbB1formal
Use this translation when referring to actions that are judged by moral standards or ethical principles, focusing on doing good or acting with integrity.
A kind person helping an elderly individual cross a street.

Examples

Siempre intenta obrar de buena fe.

He always tries to act in good faith.

Obraste correctamente al decir la verdad.

You acted correctly by telling the truth.

Debemos obrar con mucha cautela en este asunto.

We must proceed with great caution in this matter.

Obrar vs. Hacer

While 'hacer' means 'to do/make' in general, 'obrar' specifically describes the way or moral manner in which someone carries out an action.

Using 'de' after Obrar

To describe the manner of acting, we often use 'obrar de' followed by a noun, like 'obrar de buena fe' (to act in good faith).

Using Obrar for 'to work' (job)

Mistake: “Mañana tengo que obrar ocho horas.”

Correction: Mañana tengo que trabajar ocho horas. 'Obrar' isn't used for your daily job; 'trabajar' is for employment.

haberse

ah-behr-sehaˈβeɾse

verbC1formal
This reflexive verb is used to describe how someone conducted themselves in a specific, often significant or formal, situation, implying a certain bearing or manner.
A high-quality simple colorful storybook illustration of a young child politely holding a wooden door open for an elderly person carrying groceries, demonstrating good conduct.

Examples

El soldado se hubo con gran valor frente al enemigo.

The soldier behaved with great bravery in front of the enemy.

El director se había con mucha cautela en las negociaciones.

The director had conducted himself with great caution in the negotiations.

Formal Replacement

This meaning is almost always replaced by the more common verb 'comportarse' in modern, everyday Spanish. You will usually only see this in old novels or very formal writing.

Mixing Meanings

Mistake: “No te hubiste bien en la fiesta (meaning 'You didn't behave well at the party').”

Correction: No te comportaste bien en la fiesta. (Use 'comportarse' for behavior in casual contexts.)

Portar vs. Comportar

The most common confusion for learners is between 'portar' and 'comportar', as both are frequently used for general behavior. While very similar, 'portar' is often used with children and implies a slightly more informal, everyday context, whereas 'comportar' is broader and can apply to any person or situation.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.