How to Say "to benefit" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to benefit” is “beneficiar” — use 'beneficiar' when something directly provides an advantage, improvement, or positive outcome to someone or something else.
Use 'beneficiar' when something directly provides an advantage, improvement, or positive outcome to someone or something else.
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Use 'aprovechar' when referring to something yielding positive results for oneself, often implying making good use of an opportunity or resource.
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Use 'favorecer' when something helps or suits a person or situation, often implying it makes them look or seem better, or aids their progress.
Learn more →beh-neh-fee-syahrbenefiˈsjaɾ
Examples
El ejercicio regular beneficia la salud cardiovascular.
Regular exercise benefits cardiovascular health.
Comer verduras beneficia mucho tu salud.
Eating vegetables benefits your health a lot.
La nueva ley va a beneficiar a las familias con hijos.
The new law is going to benefit families with children.
El buen clima benefició la cosecha de este año.
The good weather helped this year's harvest.
The 'Personal a'
When 'beneficiar' is followed by a specific person or group, you must use the word 'a' before them. For example: 'Beneficia a los niños'.
Benefit vs. Profiting
Use 'beneficiar' when something acts on another to help it. If you want to say you are gaining from something, you add 'se' (beneficiarse) followed by 'de'.
Forgetting the 'Personal a'
Mistake: “La medicina beneficia los pacientes.”
Correction: La medicina beneficia a los pacientes. (Always use 'a' when the beneficiary is a person.)
ah-proh-veh-CHARa.pɾo.βeˈtʃaɾ
Examples
No aproveché la oferta y ahora me arrepiento.
I didn't take advantage of the offer and now I regret it.
Este curso de cocina no me aprovecha mucho.
This cooking course isn't benefiting me much (or isn't very useful to me).
El esfuerzo que hiciste sí aprovechó.
The effort you made was indeed beneficial/useful.
Intransitive Use
In this sense, the subject of the sentence (e.g., 'the course' or 'the effort') is what is being useful. It doesn't take a direct object.
fah-voh-reh-SEHRfaβoɾeˈθeɾ
Examples
El buen tiempo favoreció el crecimiento de las plantas.
The good weather favored the growth of the plants.
Ese color azul te favorece mucho.
That blue color suits you a lot.
Las nuevas leyes favorecen a las pequeñas empresas.
The new laws benefit small businesses.
El clima cálido favorece el crecimiento de estas plantas.
The warm climate promotes the growth of these plants.
The 'ZC' Change
When you use the 'I' form (yo) in the present, the 'c' changes to 'zc' (favorezco) to keep the soft sound. This also happens in all the 'wishes and commands' forms (the subjunctive).
Using 'a' with People
If you are favoring or benefiting a specific person, remember to put the word 'a' before them, as in 'favorecer a los niños'.
Using 'gustar' for clothing
Mistake: “Esa camisa te gusta.”
Correction: Esa camisa te favorece.
Beneficiar vs. Aprovechar
Learners often confuse 'beneficiar' and 'aprovechar'. Remember that 'beneficiar' implies a direct positive impact on something/someone else, while 'aprovechar' focuses on personally gaining from or utilizing something effectively.
Related Translations
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