Inklingo

How to Say "to join" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “to join” is “unir” — use this verb when you are physically connecting or attaching two or more separate items together.

unir🔊A1

Use this verb when you are physically connecting or attaching two or more separate items together.

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juntar🔊A1

Use this verb when bringing two or more things together so they are in contact or proximity, often implying a temporary connection.

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unirse🔊A2

Use this reflexive verb when becoming part of a group, team, or organization, often with the implication of joining an existing entity.

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unirme🔊A2

Use this reflexive verb when you personally want to become a member of a group, team, or movement.

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unirte🔊A2

Use this reflexive verb when inviting someone else to become a member of a group, club, or digital platform.

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entrar🔊A2

Use this verb to indicate starting or becoming part of an organization, institution, or team, often implying a formal entry.

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reunirme🔊A2

Use this verb when you need to meet or get back together with someone you already know, like a colleague or friend.

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meterse🔊B1

Use this reflexive verb in the construction 'meterse en' to mean getting involved or meddling in a situation or problem.

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meterte🔊B1

Use this reflexive verb to suggest someone should actively become involved in a group, activity, or team.

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incorporar🔊B1

Use this verb when starting a new job or position, or when adding something into a larger whole, like ingredients into a mixture.

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jalar🔊B2

Use this informal verb, common in some Latin American countries, to ask if someone wants to come along or join an activity.

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adherir🔊C1

Use this verb for formally joining or becoming a member of a group, cause, or treaty, often implying agreement or support.

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English → Spanish

unir

oo-NEERuˈniɾ

verbA1
Use this verb when you are physically connecting or attaching two or more separate items together.
A close-up view of two thick, colorful ropes being knotted together to form a single continuous length.

Examples

Tienes que unir las dos piezas con pegamento.

You have to join the two pieces with glue.

El director quiere unir los esfuerzos de ambos equipos.

The director wants to unite the efforts of both teams.

La costurera unió la tela con hilo rojo.

The seamstress joined the fabric with red thread.

Regular -IR Verb

Unir is a regular verb, meaning its endings follow the standard pattern for verbs ending in -ir, making it easy to conjugate.

Mixing up 'unir' and 'estar unido'

Mistake: “Los cables son unidos. (The cables are joined.)”

Correction: Los cables están unidos. (The cables are joined.) 'Unir' is the action, 'estar unido' is the resulting state.

juntar

hoon-TARxunˈtaɾ

verbA1
Use this verb when bringing two or more things together so they are in contact or proximity, often implying a temporary connection.
Two wooden puzzle pieces being pushed together to fit perfectly.

Examples

Tienes que juntar las dos piezas para arreglarlo.

You have to join the two pieces to fix it.

Por favor, junta tus juguetes antes de dormir.

Please, put your toys together before going to sleep.

Juntamos todas las sillas en el centro de la sala.

We gathered all the chairs in the center of the room.

Using 'juntar' with objects

Use this word when you are physically moving objects into the same place or making them touch.

Juntar vs. Unir

Mistake: “Using 'unir' for picking up toys.”

Correction: Use 'juntar' for gathering items; 'unir' often implies a permanent bond or a deeper connection, like 'unir fuerzas' (joining forces).

unirse

oo-NEER-sehuˈniɾse

verbA2
Use this reflexive verb when becoming part of a group, team, or organization, often with the implication of joining an existing entity.
A small, smiling figure stepping into a welcoming circle formed by three other figures, illustrating joining a group.

Examples

¿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.')

unirme

oo-NEER-mehuˈniɾme

verbA2
Use this reflexive verb when you personally want to become a member of a group, team, or movement.
A group of colorful people standing in a circle, with one new person stepping into the gap to hold hands with the others.

Examples

Quiero unirme al equipo de fútbol.

I want to join the soccer team.

Gracias por invitarme a unirme a la cena.

Thanks for inviting me to join the dinner.

Voy a unirme a la protesta mañana.

I am going to join the protest tomorrow.

Two Words in One

This word combines 'unir' (to join) and 'me' (myself). It is used after helper verbs like 'quiero' (I want) or 'voy a' (I am going to).

The 'Me' Position

You can say 'quiero unirme' or 'me quiero unir.' Both mean the same thing, but you cannot put the 'me' in the middle!

Missing the 'a'

Mistake: “Quiero unirme el grupo.”

Correction: Quiero unirme al grupo. (In Spanish, you always join 'to' something using 'a' or 'al'.)

unirte

oo-NEER-tehuˈniɾte

verbA2
Use this reflexive verb when inviting someone else to become a member of a group, club, or digital platform.
A group of diverse children in a circle, reaching out to welcome a new friend into their group.

Examples

¿Quieres unirte a nuestro equipo de fútbol?

Do you want to join our soccer team?

Es una gran oportunidad para unirte a la conversación.

It is a great opportunity to join the conversation.

Gracias por unirte a nosotros esta noche.

Thank you for joining us tonight.

Understanding the 'te' at the end

This word is a combination of 'unir' (to join) and 'te' (you). We stick 'te' on the end when 'unir' is in its basic 'to' form and refers to you doing the action to yourself.

Placement of 'te'

Mistake: “te unirte”

Correction: Use either 'unirte' (after another verb) or 'te unes' (as the main action). Don't double up on the 'te'.

entrar

en-TRARenˈtɾaɾ

verbA2
Use this verb to indicate starting or becoming part of an organization, institution, or team, often implying a formal entry.
A student walking toward a university building, symbolizing the start of their education.

Examples

Mi hijo entra en la universidad el próximo año.

My son starts university next year.

Entré a trabajar aquí hace dos meses.

I started working here two months ago.

El equipo entró en la competición con mucha energía.

The team entered the competition with a lot of energy.

reunirme

ray-oo-NEER-mayreuˈniɾme

verbA2
Use this verb when you need to meet or get back together with someone you already know, like a colleague or friend.
Two people sitting at a table outdoors, smiling and shaking hands over coffee mugs.

Examples

Necesito reunirme con mi jefe para hablar del proyecto.

I need to meet with my boss to talk about the project.

Quiero reunirme con mis amigos este fin de semana.

I want to get together with my friends this weekend.

Espero reunirme con mi familia en Navidad.

I hope to reunite with my family at Christmas.

Why the 'me' is at the end

When you have two verbs together (like 'want to meet'), the little word 'me' (meaning myself) gets stuck right onto the end of the second verb.

The 'con' connection

In Spanish, you almost always need to say 'reunirme CON' (meet WITH) rather than just saying you are meeting someone.

Forgetting 'me'

Mistake: “Quiero reunir con mis amigos.”

Correction: Quiero reunirme con mis amigos. You need the 'me' to show that you are the one getting yourself together with others.

verbB1
Use this reflexive verb in the construction 'meterse en' to mean getting involved or meddling in a situation or problem.

Examples

No te metas en mis problemas, por favor.

Don't get involved in my problems, please.

meterte

meh-TEHR-tehmeˈteɾte

verbB1
Use this reflexive verb to suggest someone should actively become involved in a group, activity, or team.
A colorful illustration showing a child joining a group of other children who are collaboratively building a sandcastle on the beach.

Examples

Deberías meterte en el equipo de debate.

You should get involved in the debate team.

¿Estás seguro de querer meterte en ese proyecto?

Are you sure you want to join that project?

Infinitive + Pronoun

This form ('meterte') is the base verb ('meter') combined with the reflexive pronoun for 'tú' ('te'). It means 'for you to get involved' and is used after other verbs (like 'querer' or 'deber') or prepositions (like 'para').

Using the 'yo' form

Mistake: “Me quiero meterte en ese club.”

Correction: Quiero meterme en ese club. ('Meterte' is only for the subject 'tú'.)

incorporar

een-kor-por-ahrinkorpoˈɾaɾ

verbB1
Use this verb when starting a new job or position, or when adding something into a larger whole, like ingredients into a mixture.
A chef adding a single red strawberry to a bowl of green grapes.

Examples

Debes incorporar los ingredientes secos a la mezcla.

You should add the dry ingredients to the mixture.

El equipo decidió incorporar nuevas tecnologías este año.

The team decided to incorporate new technologies this year.

Me voy a incorporar a la empresa el próximo lunes.

I am going to join the company next Monday.

Using 'a' for joining

When you are joining a group, office, or team, use the word 'a' after the verb. For example: 'Se incorporó a la reunión' (He joined the meeting).

Professional Tone

While 'añadir' is great for cooking, 'incorporar' is the go-to word in business and formal writing to sound more professional.

Joining a company

Mistake: “Me incorporé la empresa.”

Correction: Me incorporé a la empresa. (You need the 'a' to show what you are joining.)

jalar

hah-LAHRxaˈlaɾ

verbB2informal
Use this informal verb, common in some Latin American countries, to ask if someone wants to come along or join an activity.
A group of happy friends putting their hands together in a circle to agree on a plan.

Examples

Vamos por tacos, ¿jalas?

We're going for tacos, you in?

Sí, yo jalo.

Yeah, I'm down / I'm in.

adherir

ah-deh-reeraðeˈɾiɾ

verbC1formal
Use this verb for formally joining or becoming a member of a group, cause, or treaty, often implying agreement or support.
A person holding a small puzzle piece and fitting it into a large, colorful heart-shaped puzzle held by a group.

Examples

Muchos países decidieron adherir al tratado de paz.

Many countries decided to join the peace treaty.

Me adhiero a lo que ha dicho mi compañero.

I support (stick to) what my colleague has said.

El sindicato se adhirió a la huelga general.

The union joined the general strike.

Reflexive Use

When talking about joining a group or supporting an idea, you usually add 'se' to the verb (adherirse). It's like saying you are 'sticking yourself' to that cause.

Confusing with 'unirse'

Mistake: “Me adhirieron al club.”

Correction: Me adherí al club. 'Adherir' in this sense is something you choose to do yourself, so it needs the reflexive 'me/te/se' forms.

Joining Groups vs. Connecting Objects

The most frequent confusion is between verbs like 'unir'/'juntar' (connecting physical objects) and 'unirse'/'unirme'/'meterte' (joining groups). Always consider if you are physically attaching things or becoming part of a collective.

Related Translations

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