How to Say "to combine" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to combine” is “combinar” — use 'combinar' when you are physically mixing ingredients or conceptually merging distinct ideas or elements.
Use 'combinar' when you are physically mixing ingredients or conceptually merging distinct ideas or elements.
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Use 'unir' when the primary action is joining two or more separate physical objects or abstract concepts together to form a single unit.
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Use 'concurrir' when multiple factors or circumstances come together or contribute to a single result or situation.
Learn more →kom-bee-NAHRkombiˈnaɾ
Examples
Debes combinar la harina con el azúcar.
You must combine the flour with the sugar.
Combinamos diferentes estilos de música en el festival.
We combine different styles of music at the festival.
El arquitecto combinó madera y cristal en el diseño.
The architect combined wood and glass in the design.
Using 'Con'
When you want to say you are combining one thing with another, always use the word 'con' (with), just like in English.
A Perfectly Regular Verb
This verb follows the standard rules for all -ar verbs. If you know how to conjugate 'hablar,' you already know how to conjugate 'combinar'!
Matching vs. Combining
Mistake: “Using 'mezclar' for clothes.”
Correction: Use 'combinar' for things that look good together (like clothes) and 'mezclar' for things that physically blend into one (like milk and coffee).
oo-NEERuˈniɾ
Examples
Tienes que unir las dos piezas con pegamento.
You have to join the two pieces with glue.
El director quiere unir los esfuerzos de ambos equipos.
The director wants to unite the efforts of both teams.
La costurera unió la tela con hilo rojo.
The seamstress joined the fabric with red thread.
Regular -IR Verb
Unir is a regular verb, meaning its endings follow the standard pattern for verbs ending in -ir, making it easy to conjugate.
Mixing up 'unir' and 'estar unido'
Mistake: “Los cables son unidos. (The cables are joined.)”
Correction: Los cables están unidos. (The cables are joined.) 'Unir' is the action, 'estar unido' is the resulting state.
kon-koo-reerkonkuˈrir
Examples
En este paciente concurren varios síntomas extraños.
Several strange symptoms coincide in this patient.
Concurrieron diversas circunstancias que facilitaron el éxito.
Diverse circumstances combined to facilitate success.
Es difícil que concurran tantos talentos en una sola persona.
It is difficult for so many talents to come together in a single person.
Use with 'en'
When things come together in a specific point or person, we use 'en' (e.g., 'concurren en él').
Combinar vs. Unir
Learners often confuse 'combinar' and 'unir' because both can be used for mixing. Remember that 'combinar' often implies a blending or integration, while 'unir' focuses more on the act of physically joining things together.
Related Translations
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