Inklingo

How to Say "to enlist" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “to enlist” is “alistarse” — use 'alistarse' when someone is officially joining the military or a formal organization, often through a formal process of signing up.

English → Spanish

alistarse

ah-lee-STARalisˈtaɾ

verbB1formal
Use 'alistarse' when someone is officially joining the military or a formal organization, often through a formal process of signing up.
A person shaking hands with a leader in front of a group of people wearing matching uniforms.

Examples

Decidió alistarse en la marina después de graduarse.

He decided to enlist in the navy after graduating.

El gobierno alistó a miles de reclutas.

The government enlisted thousands of recruits.

Lo alistaron en el equipo de fútbol local.

They enrolled him in the local soccer team.

Formal Contexts

This meaning refers to adding a name to a list (a 'lista'), which is where the word comes from.

unirse

oo-NEER-sehuˈniɾse

verbA2
Use 'unirse' to express joining a group, team, or service in a more general way, implying becoming part of it.
A small, smiling figure stepping into a welcoming circle formed by three other figures, illustrating joining a group.

Examples

Varios amigos se unieron al ejército juntos.

Several friends joined the army together.

¿Quieres unirte a nuestro grupo de estudio?

Do you want to join our study group?

Me uní al equipo el mes pasado.

I joined the team last month.

The Reflexive 'Se'

Because 'unir' (to unite something else) becomes 'unirse' (to unite oneself), you must include the little pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os) that matches the subject doing the action.

Using 'A' after Unirse

When you join something, you almost always use the preposition 'a' (to/at) right after the verb: 'Me uno al club' (I join the club). Remember 'al' is the short form of 'a el'.

Forgetting the Reflexive Pronoun

Mistake: “Yo uno el grupo.”

Correction: Yo *me uno* al grupo. ('Yo uno' means 'I unite something else,' not 'I join.')

reclutar

rreh-kloo-TARrekluˈtar

verbB1formal
Use 'reclutar' when an organization or entity is actively seeking and signing up new members, especially for service or work.
A friendly person in professional attire smiling and shaking hands with a new team member in front of an office building.

Examples

El hospital está reclutando voluntarios para la campaña de donación.

The hospital is recruiting volunteers for the donation drive.

La empresa necesita reclutar más ingenieros este mes.

The company needs to recruit more engineers this month.

El ejército reclutó a muchos jóvenes durante la guerra.

The army recruited many young people during the war.

Recluté a mis hermanos para que me ayudaran con la mudanza.

I roped in my brothers to help me with the move.

The Personal 'A'

Since 'reclutar' involves people, you must put an 'a' before the person or group being recruited. Example: 'Reclutar a un amigo'.

A Regular '-ar' Verb

This word follows the standard pattern for verbs ending in -ar, so it is a great one to practice your basic conjugation skills.

Missing the 'A'

Mistake: “Reclutar nuevos empleados.”

Correction: Reclutar a nuevos empleados. Remember to use 'a' when the action is done to a specific person or people.

meterse

meh-TEHR-sehmeˈteɾ.se

verbC1informal
Use 'meterse' informally to mean getting involved in or becoming part of a profession, activity, or sometimes even a less formal group.
A cartoon figure diving enthusiastically into a large open book, symbolizing dedication to a new subject or career.

Examples

Después de la universidad, se metió a profesor de español.

After university, he got into being a Spanish teacher.

Después de la universidad, se metió a periodista.

After university, he became a journalist.

Ella se metió en política para cambiar las cosas.

She got into politics to change things.

Focus on Commitment

This usage emphasizes the act of committing or immersing oneself fully into a specific role, career, or lifestyle.

Alistar vs. Unirse

Learners often confuse 'alistarse' and 'unirse.' While both mean to join, 'alistarse' implies a more formal enlistment, especially in the military. 'Unirse' is broader and can mean simply joining a group, not necessarily through official recruitment.

Related Translations

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