Inklingo

How to Say "to communicate" in Spanish

English → Spanish

comunicar

koh-moo-nee-karkomuniˈkaɾ

verbA2general
Use 'comunicar' when you are actively conveying specific information or a message to someone else.
Two people sitting across from each other talking and gesturing with friendly expressions.

Examples

Necesito comunicar esta noticia a mi familia.

I need to tell this news to my family.

Es importante comunicar tus ideas con claridad.

It is important to communicate your ideas clearly.

El director comunicó los cambios por correo electrónico.

The director announced the changes via email.

The 'C' to 'QU' Swap

In the 'I' form of the past tense (preterite), the 'c' changes to 'qu' (comuniqué). This is just to keep the hard 'K' sound; it doesn't change how the verb works!

Using 'Con'

When you want to say you are communicating WITH someone, you must use the word 'con' after the verb.

Forgetting the 'qu' in writing

Mistake: “Yo comunicé la noticia.”

Correction: Yo comuniqué la noticia. (We use 'qu' before 'e' to keep the sound hard like a 'K'.)

comunicarse

ko-moo-nee-kar-sehkomuniˈkaɾse

verbA2general
Use 'comunicarse' to describe the act of exchanging information or feelings, often implying a two-way or ongoing connection.
Two friends sitting on a park bench, talking and gesturing warmly to each other.

Examples

Nos comunicamos por mensaje de texto todos los días.

We communicate by text message every day.

Es difícil comunicarse con él cuando está enojado.

It is hard to get through to him when he is angry.

Ella se comunica muy bien en público.

She expresses herself very well in public.

The 'Se' ending

The 'se' at the end means the action is 'shared' or happens between people. You must change it to match the person (me, te, se, nos, os) before the verb.

Spelling Change

In the 'I' form of the past tense, the 'c' changes to 'qu' (comuniqué) to keep the hard 'k' sound.

Missing the pronoun

Mistake: “Yo comunico con mi madre.”

Correction: Yo me comunico con mi madre.

compartir

kom-par-TEERkom.paɾˈtiɾ

verbB1general
Choose 'compartir' when the focus is on sharing something personal, like ideas, feelings, or experiences, with another person.
Two people sitting close together, engaged in an intimate conversation, one gesturing expressively while the other listens intently.

Examples

Ella compartió sus miedos más profundos con su mejor amiga.

She shared her deepest fears with her best friend.

Por favor, comparte este artículo interesante en tus redes sociales.

Please, share this interesting article on your social networks.

Me gusta compartir mis ideas sobre el futuro con mis colegas.

I like to share my ideas about the future with my colleagues.

Digital Context

When talking about sharing links or photos online, 'compartir' is the standard verb, just like in English.

Comunicar vs. Compartir

Learners often confuse 'comunicar' and 'compartir'. Remember that 'comunicar' is about sending information, while 'compartir' implies a more intimate exchange of personal thoughts or feelings.

Related Translations

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