How to Say "to incur" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to incur” is “incurrir” — use 'incurrir' when you need to talk about the act of accumulating expenses or debts, often due to a specific action or situation.
Use 'incurrir' when you need to talk about the act of accumulating expenses or debts, often due to a specific action or situation.
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Use 'contraer' when referring to catching a disease or taking on an obligation or debt, often something that happens to you rather than something you actively accumulate.
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Use 'sufrir' specifically when talking about experiencing or sustaining negative consequences, most commonly financial losses.
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Use 'incidir' to describe falling into a fault or error, essentially repeating a mistake or negative pattern.
Learn more →een-koo-reeriŋkuˈriɾ
Examples
La empresa tuvo que incurrir en gastos adicionales para terminar el proyecto.
The company had to incur additional expenses to finish the project.
Si cancelas tarde, vas a incurrir en una penalización.
If you cancel late, you are going to incur a penalty.
Financial Usage
When talking about money, this verb is used when you are the one responsible for the cost happening.
kon-tra-EHRkon.tɾaˈeɾ
Examples
Él contrajo una enfermedad tropical durante el viaje.
He caught a tropical disease during the trip.
La empresa contrajo grandes deudas el año pasado.
The company incurred large debts last year.
Es peligroso contraer nuevas obligaciones sin capital.
It is dangerous to take on new obligations without capital.
Formal Acquire
While you can use 'tener' for a debt, 'contraer' is the professional way to say you've officially taken it on.
Not for 'Contracts'
Mistake: “Voy a contraer un contrato de trabajo.”
Correction: Voy a firmar un contrato. (Use 'firmar' for physical documents; 'contraer' is for the responsibility itself.)
soo-FREERsuˈfɾiɾ
Examples
La empresa sufrió grandes pérdidas este trimestre.
The company sustained large losses this quarter.
El edificio sufrió daños graves a causa del terremoto.
The building underwent serious damage due to the earthquake.
Nuestra reputación sufrió un duro golpe.
Our reputation suffered a serious blow.
Non-Human Subjects
In this context, the subject performing 'sufrir' is often an inanimate object, like 'el puente' (the bridge) or 'la economía' (the economy).
Confusing 'soportar'
Mistake: “El puente sufrió el peso.”
Correction: El puente soportó el peso. ('Soportar' means to withstand or bear weight/pressure, while 'sufrir' means to be negatively affected by it.)
een-see-DEERinsiˈðiɾ
Examples
No podemos incidir en los mismos errores del pasado.
We cannot fall back into the same mistakes of the past.
El acusado incidió en el mismo delito.
The accused committed the same crime again.
Falling into patterns
When used with negative things like 'mistakes' or 'crimes', 'incidir' describes the act of 'landing' back into that bad behavior.
Incurrir vs. Contraer Debts
Learners often confuse 'incurrir' and 'contraer' when talking about debts. 'Incurrir en deudas' implies actively taking on debt, while 'contraer deudas' can feel more like an obligation being placed upon you or a more formal taking on of the debt. Stick with 'incurrir' for general expenses and debts, and 'contraer' for diseases or more formal obligations.
Related Translations
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