Inklingo

How to Say "to increase" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “to increase” is “aumentar” — use 'aumentar' when referring to a general increase in size, quantity, speed, or intensity, applicable in most common situations.

aumentar🔊A1

Use 'aumentar' when referring to a general increase in size, quantity, speed, or intensity, applicable in most common situations.

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subir🔊B1

Use 'subir' specifically when talking about prices, amounts, or numbers going up, often implying a rise or climb.

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elevar🔊B1

Use 'elevar' when referring to an increase in prices, numbers, or levels, often suggesting a more formal or significant rise.

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incrementar🔊B1

Use 'incrementar' for general growth in size, amount, or intensity, often used in business or economic contexts.

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crecer🔊B2

Use 'crecer' when referring to organic growth, such as numbers expanding, volume increasing, or intensity growing over time.

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intensificar🔊B1

Use 'intensificar' when the focus is on making something stronger, louder, brighter, or more extreme.

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English → Spanish

aumentar

ow-men-TARaw.menˈtaɾ

verbA1general
Use 'aumentar' when referring to a general increase in size, quantity, speed, or intensity, applicable in most common situations.
A visual depiction of increase, showing a small pile of red apples beside a significantly larger pile of red apples, illustrating an increase in quantity.

Examples

Necesitamos aumentar la velocidad para llegar a tiempo.

We need to increase the speed to arrive on time.

El jefe prometió aumentar mi salario el próximo año.

The boss promised to raise my salary next year.

Por favor, aumenta el volumen de la música.

Please, turn up the volume of the music.

Using 'Aumentar' Transitively

In this sense, 'aumentar' is transitive, meaning it must act upon a direct object (the thing being increased): 'Aumento [el volumen].'

Confusing Transitive and Intransitive

Mistake: “La temperatura se aumentó el sol. (The sun increased the temperature.)”

Correction: El sol aumentó la temperatura. (The sun increased the temperature.) – Only use 'se' if the temperature increases itself.

subir

soo-BEERsuˈβiɾ

verbB1general
Use 'subir' specifically when talking about prices, amounts, or numbers going up, often implying a rise or climb.
A towering, unstable stack of stylized gold coins growing taller from a flat surface, symbolizing an increase in value.

Examples

El gobierno decidió subir los impuestos este año.

The government decided to raise the taxes this year.

¿Podrías subir el volumen? No oigo nada.

Could you turn up the volume? I can't hear anything.

La temperatura va a subir mañana, hará mucho calor.

The temperature is going to go up tomorrow; it will be very hot.

elevar

eh-leh-BAHReleˈβaɾ

verbB1general
Use 'elevar' when referring to an increase in prices, numbers, or levels, often suggesting a more formal or significant rise.
A colorful bar chart where the last bar is much taller than the others, with a red arrow pointing up.

Examples

La tienda tuvo que elevar los precios debido a la inflación.

The store had to raise prices due to inflation.

Queremos elevar la calidad de nuestros servicios.

We want to raise the quality of our services.

Las lluvias elevaron el nivel del río.

The rains raised the river level.

Abstract Use

Unlike English where we often say 'go up,' in professional Spanish, we prefer 'elevar' for things like prestige, quality, or standards.

Mathematical 'Power'

If you are doing math and need to say 'Two squared' (2 to the power of 2), you use the verb 'elevar': 'Dos elevado al cuadrado'.

Careful with 'Voices'

Mistake: “Él elevó la voz.”

Correction: This usually means he started shouting or got angry, not just speaking louder for clarity. Be careful with the tone!

incrementar

een-creh-men-tahrinkɾemenˈtaɾ

verbB1general
Use 'incrementar' for general growth in size, amount, or intensity, often used in business or economic contexts.
A hand adds a bright red wooden block to the top of a colorful stack of blocks, making the tower taller.

Examples

La empresa quiere incrementar sus ventas este año.

The company wants to increase its sales this year.

Necesitamos incrementar la seguridad en el evento.

We need to boost security at the event.

Hacer ejercicio ayuda a incrementar tu energía diaria.

Exercising helps to increase your daily energy.

A Regular Friend

This verb is completely regular. It follows the standard pattern for all verbs ending in '-ar,' making it very easy to conjugate once you know the basics.

Making things grow

Use this word when one thing makes another thing larger or more intense. It usually answers the question 'What are you increasing?' (e.g., prices, speed, or efforts).

Numbers vs. Objects

Mistake: “Using it for physical height like 'incremente mi altura'.”

Correction: Say 'crecí' (I grew) or 'soy más alto'. 'Incrementar' is better for amounts, quantities, or abstract things like 'pressure' or 'sales'.

crecer

kreh-SEHRkɾeˈseɾ

verbB2general
Use 'crecer' when referring to organic growth, such as numbers expanding, volume increasing, or intensity growing over time.
A simple, clear glass jar half-filled with bright blue water, with a stream of water pouring into the jar from above, increasing the water level.

Examples

La demanda de energía solar ha crecido exponencialmente.

The demand for solar energy has grown exponentially.

El nivel del agua creció tras la tormenta.

The water level rose after the storm.

intensificar

in-ten-see-fee-KARintensifiˈkaɾ

verbB1general
Use 'intensificar' when the focus is on making something stronger, louder, brighter, or more extreme.
A small campfire growing into a large, bright, and powerful orange flame.

Examples

El equipo decidió intensificar los entrenamientos antes de la final.

The team decided to step up their training sessions before the final.

La lluvia se va a intensificar durante la noche.

The rain is going to intensify during the night.

Debemos intensificar nuestra búsqueda de soluciones.

We must heighten our search for solutions.

Spelling Change Alert

In the past tense (Preterite) 'yo' form and all 'wish/command' forms (Subjunctive), the 'c' changes to 'qu' to keep the hard 'K' sound. For example: 'yo intensifiqué' instead of 'intensificé'.

Using 'se' with Intensificar

When an action becomes more intense on its own (like a storm or a smell), we often add 'se' at the end: 'El olor se intensifica' (The smell is getting stronger).

The 'C' to 'QU' spelling error

Mistake: “Yo intensificé mis estudios.”

Correction: Yo intensifiqué mis estudios. You need the 'qu' because a 'c' followed by an 'e' makes a soft 'S' sound in Spanish, and we want to keep the 'K' sound from the original word.

General vs. Specific Increases

The most common mistake is using 'aumentar' (a general term) when a more specific verb like 'subir' or 'elevar' for prices, or 'crecer' for organic growth, would be more precise. While 'aumentar' is often understood, using the specific verb makes your Spanish sound more advanced.

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