How to Say "to dress" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to dress” is “vestir” — use 'vestir' when the action is about putting clothes on someone else, like a child or a patient.
vestir
ves-TIRbesˈtiɾ
Examples
Mi madre me viste cada mañana.
My mother dresses me every morning.
La niñera tiene que vestir a los gemelos antes de las ocho.
The nanny has to dress the twins before eight o'clock.
Mi abuela me vistió para mi primera comunión.
My grandmother dressed me for my first communion.
Stem-Changing Verb (e > i)
In many forms, the 'e' in the middle of the verb stem changes to an 'i'. For example, 'yo visto' (I dress), not 'yo vesto'. This happens whenever the stress falls on the stem.
The 'Nosotros/Vosotros' Exception
The 'e > i' change is skipped for the 'we' (nosotros) and informal 'you all' (vosotros) forms in the present tense. We say 'vestimos', not 'vistimos'.
Confusing 'Vestir' and 'Llevar'
Mistake: “Using 'vestir' when you mean 'to wear' a specific item (e.g., *Yo visto una camisa*).”
Correction: Use 'llevar' or 'ponerse' for wearing items: 'Yo llevo una camisa' (I wear a shirt). Use 'vestir' for the action of dressing someone or describing a style.
vendar
ben-dahrbenˈdaɾ
Examples
El doctor tuvo que vendarle el brazo roto.
The doctor had to bandage his broken arm.
El enfermero tiene que vendar la herida.
The nurse has to bandage the wound.
Me vendé el tobillo después de la carrera.
I bandaged my ankle after the race.
Es importante vendar bien la zona para evitar infecciones.
It is important to dress the area well to avoid infections.
A Friendly Regular Verb
This verb follows the standard pattern for verbs ending in -ar. There are no surprise spelling changes in the stem!
Reflexive Use
If you are bandaging yourself, use the reflexive form 'vendarse' (e.g., 'Me vendo el pie').
The 'Vendar' vs 'Vender' Mix-up
Mistake: “Yo vendo mi coche.”
Correction: 'Vendo' is from 'vender' (to sell). While they look identical in the 'I' form, context tells you if someone is selling a car or bandaging it! To bandage a car makes little sense, so they probably mean selling.
Confusing Clothing with Bandages
Related Translations
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