Inklingo

How to Say "to link" in Spanish

English → Spanish

conectar

koh-nek-TAR/ko.nekˈtaɾ/

verbA1general
Use 'conectar' when linking physical devices, networks, or abstract concepts like ideas or facts.
A simple illustration showing two ends of a colorful wire connector fitting perfectly into each other, representing a physical connection.

Examples

¿Puedes conectar el teléfono al Wi-Fi?

Can you connect the phone to the Wi-Fi?

Esta carretera conecta la ciudad con el aeropuerto.

This highway links the city with the airport.

Conectaron todos los cables antes de encender la máquina.

They connected all the cables before turning on the machine.

Es difícil conectar la falta de sueño con la pérdida de memoria.

It is difficult to link the lack of sleep with memory loss.

Regular -AR Verb

Conectar is a regular verb, meaning its endings follow the standard pattern for all verbs that end in -ar. Once you know the pattern, you can conjugate hundreds of verbs!

Formal Usage

In this abstract sense, 'conectar' often appears in passive constructions or formal statements, emphasizing the relationship between two concepts rather than the person doing the connecting.

Using the wrong preposition

Mistake: “Conectar con el internet.”

Correction: Conectar a internet (or a la red). In Spanish, we usually use 'a' when connecting to a service or network.

conectar

koh-nek-TAR/ko.nekˈtaɾ/

verbB2general
Use 'conectar' to establish a logical or causal relationship between abstract elements like ideas, facts, or evidence.
A simple illustration showing two ends of a colorful wire connector fitting perfectly into each other, representing a physical connection.

Examples

Es difícil conectar la falta de sueño con la pérdida de memoria.

It is difficult to link the lack of sleep with memory loss.

¿Puedes conectar el teléfono al Wi-Fi?

Can you connect the phone to the Wi-Fi?

Esta carretera conecta la ciudad con el aeropuerto.

This highway links the city with the airport.

Conectaron todos los cables antes de encender la máquina.

They connected all the cables before turning on the machine.

Regular -AR Verb

Conectar is a regular verb, meaning its endings follow the standard pattern for all verbs that end in -ar. Once you know the pattern, you can conjugate hundreds of verbs!

Formal Usage

In this abstract sense, 'conectar' often appears in passive constructions or formal statements, emphasizing the relationship between two concepts rather than the person doing the connecting.

Using the wrong preposition

Mistake: “Conectar con el internet.”

Correction: Conectar a internet (or a la red). In Spanish, we usually use 'a' when connecting to a service or network.

unir

/oo-NEER//uˈniɾ/

verbA1general
Use 'unir' primarily for physically joining two or more separate items together to form a single unit.
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.

Conectar vs. Unir

Learners often confuse 'conectar' and 'unir'. Remember that 'unir' is generally for physically joining things, like gluing pieces together. 'Conectar' is broader, covering both physical connections (like devices) and abstract links (like ideas or causes).

Related Translations

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