How to Say "to look" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to look” is “parecer” — use this for a general visual impression or how someone or something appears, especially regarding their state (e.g., tired, happy, good).
Use this for a general visual impression or how someone or something appears, especially regarding their state (e.g., tired, happy, good).
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Use this reflexively to describe how you yourself appear or seem, often about your physical state or condition.
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Use this specifically when talking about how old someone appears, often implying they look younger than their actual age.
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Use this when specifically stating that someone appears to be a certain age, often in contrast to their real age.
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This is generally not used for 'to look' in the sense of appearance, but rather to describe how something fits or how a situation turns out (e.g., running out of something).
Learn more →pah-reh-SEHRpaɾeˈseɾ
Examples
Pareces cansado hoy.
You look tired today.
El examen parece difícil.
The exam seems difficult.
Parece que va a llover.
It looks like it is going to rain.
The 'Z' Change
In the present tense, the 'yo' form changes to 'parezco'. This 'zc' sound also appears in all forms of the Present Subjunctive (parezca).
Looking like vs. Looking at
Don't confuse 'parecer' (to look a certain way) with 'mirar' (to look AT something). Use 'parecer' to describe appearances.
Using 'Como'
Mistake: “Pareces como cansado.”
Correction: Pareces cansado.
vehr-sehˈbeɾse
Examples
Después del maratón, me veo agotado.
After the marathon, I look/feel exhausted.
Ella se ve muy feliz en su nuevo trabajo.
She seems very happy in her new job.
No me veo viviendo en una ciudad tan grande.
I don't imagine myself living in such a big city.
Talking About Appearance
When 'verse' means 'to look' or 'to seem,' it is always followed by an adjective (like 'cansado' or 'feliz').
Confusing 'Verse' and 'Parecer'
Mistake: “Using 'Me parezco cansado.'”
Correction: Use 'Me veo cansado.' 'Parecer' means 'to look like' someone else, not 'to seem' or 'to look' a certain way personally.
ah-pah-rehn-tarapaɾenˈtaɾ
Examples
Ella aparenta menos edad de la que tiene.
She looks younger than she actually is.
No tienes que aparentar que estás feliz si no lo estás.
You don't have to pretend that you're happy if you're not.
Mucha gente gasta dinero que no tiene solo por aparentar.
Many people spend money they don't have just to show off.
Using it for age
When you want to say someone looks a certain age, follow the verb directly with the number: 'Ella aparenta treinta años'.
Aparentar vs. Parecer
Use 'aparentar' when someone is actively showing an image (sometimes a false one) and 'parecer' for general impressions.
Age with 'to look'
Mistake: “Ella mira joven.”
Correction: Ella aparenta ser joven o Ella parece joven. 'Mirar' is for the act of looking at something, not your appearance.
reh-preh-sehn-TARrepɾesenˈtaɾ
Examples
Él tiene 50 años, pero representa muchos menos.
He is 50, but he looks much younger.
Este cambio representa un gran esfuerzo para nosotros.
This change involves a great effort for us.
keh-DAHR-noskeˈðaɾnos
Examples
Tenemos que ahorrar para no quedarnos sin dinero antes de fin de mes.
We have to save so we don't run out of money before the end of the month.
Si compramos eso, solo nos va a quedarnos un poco de cambio.
If we buy that, we are only going to be left with a little change.
Después de la discusión, decidimos quedarnos en silencio.
After the argument, we decided to end up in silence (remain silent).
Running Out of Things
To express that 'we ran out of' something, use the structure 'quedarnos sin + noun.' Example: 'quedarnos sin luz' (to run out of electricity).
Describing Appearance
The phrase 'quedarnos + adjective' describes the result of an action or how we look/feel: 'quedarnos cansados' (to end up tired).
Mixing up 'Left Over' Forms
Mistake: “Nosotros sobró dinero. (Using the impersonal 'sobrar' with a subject pronoun.)”
Correction: Nos quedamos con dinero. (Use 'quedarse con' to mean 'to be left possessing' or 'Nos quedó dinero' if using the impersonal form of 'quedar'.)
Appearance vs. Age
Learners often confuse 'parecer' and 'aparentar'/'representar'. Remember that 'parecer' is for general visual impressions (looking tired, happy), while 'aparentar' and 'representar' are specifically about how old someone looks.
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