How to Say "to make" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to make” is “hacer” — use 'hacer' when you are creating or preparing something, or when you are asking what someone is doing in a general sense..
hacer
/ah-sehr//a'seɾ/
Examples
¿Qué haces?
What are you doing?
Hago la cena todas las noches.
I make dinner every night.
Mi hermano hizo un pastel delicioso.
My brother made a delicious cake.
Esa película me hizo llorar.
That movie made me cry.
The Irregular 'yo' Form: 'hago'
In the present tense, the 'yo' (I) form of 'hacer' is irregular. Instead of 'haco,' it's 'hago.' This 'go' ending is a common pattern in other irregular verbs too, like 'pongo' (from poner) and 'salgo' (from salir).
A Tricky Past Tense
Watch out for the simple past tense (called the preterite). The 'c' changes to 'z' for 'él/ella/usted' to keep the sound right: 'hizo'. Also, the 'i' is used instead of the usual 'e': 'hice', 'hiciste', 'hizo'.
The 'hacer + infinitive' Pattern
To say you 'make' someone do something, use this simple recipe: 'hacer' (in the right form) + the second verb in its original '-ar, -er, -ir' form. For example, 'Me hace reír' (It makes me laugh).
Confusing 'Do' vs. 'Make'
Mistake: “Trying to find separate Spanish verbs for the English 'do' and 'make'.”
Correction: Relax! In Spanish, 'hacer' covers both. You use 'hacer' for doing homework ('hacer la tarea') and for making a cake ('hacer un pastel'). It's simpler than English in this case.
Adding an Extra Word
Mistake: “Me hace a llorar. / Me hace que lloro.”
Correction: Me hace llorar. Unlike in some other structures, you don't need any little connecting words like 'a' or 'que' between 'hacer' and the next verb. They stick right together.
hacer
/ah-sehr//a'seɾ/
Examples
Esa película me hizo llorar.
That movie made me cry.
¿Qué haces?
What are you doing?
Hago la cena todas las noches.
I make dinner every night.
Mi hermano hizo un pastel delicioso.
My brother made a delicious cake.
The Irregular 'yo' Form: 'hago'
In the present tense, the 'yo' (I) form of 'hacer' is irregular. Instead of 'haco,' it's 'hago.' This 'go' ending is a common pattern in other irregular verbs too, like 'pongo' (from poner) and 'salgo' (from salir).
A Tricky Past Tense
Watch out for the simple past tense (called the preterite). The 'c' changes to 'z' for 'él/ella/usted' to keep the sound right: 'hizo'. Also, the 'i' is used instead of the usual 'e': 'hice', 'hiciste', 'hizo'.
The 'hacer + infinitive' Pattern
To say you 'make' someone do something, use this simple recipe: 'hacer' (in the right form) + the second verb in its original '-ar, -er, -ir' form. For example, 'Me hace reír' (It makes me laugh).
Confusing 'Do' vs. 'Make'
Mistake: “Trying to find separate Spanish verbs for the English 'do' and 'make'.”
Correction: Relax! In Spanish, 'hacer' covers both. You use 'hacer' for doing homework ('hacer la tarea') and for making a cake ('hacer un pastel'). It's simpler than English in this case.
Adding an Extra Word
Mistake: “Me hace a llorar. / Me hace que lloro.”
Correction: Me hace llorar. Unlike in some other structures, you don't need any little connecting words like 'a' or 'que' between 'hacer' and the next verb. They stick right together.
preparar
/pre-pa-RAHR//pɾepaˈɾaɾ/
Examples
Mi abuela prepara el mejor café del mundo.
My grandmother makes the best coffee in the world.
Preparar vs. Cocinar
While 'cocinar' specifically means the act of heating food, 'preparar' is used more broadly for making drinks, salads, or any meal assembly.
ganar
/gah-NAR//ɡaˈnaɾ/
Examples
¿Cuánto ganas al mes?
How much do you earn per month?
Trabajo mucho para ganar dinero para mi familia.
I work a lot to earn money for my family.
Es importante saber cómo ganarse la vida.
It's important to know how to earn a living.
Using 'Hacer' for 'To Make Money'
Mistake: “En mi trabajo, yo hago mucho dinero.”
Correction: En mi trabajo, yo gano mucho dinero. In Spanish, you 'win' or 'earn' money, you don't 'make' it like you do in English.
tomar
/toh-MAHR//toˈmaɾ/
Examples
Tienes que tomar tu medicina todos los días.
You have to take your medicine every day.
Voy a tomar una clase de español el próximo semestre.
I'm going to take a Spanish class next semester.
Es difícil, pero tenemos que tomar una decisión pronto.
It's difficult, but we have to make a decision soon.
cometer
koh-meh-TER/ko.meˈteɾ/
Examples
El conductor cometió una infracción de tráfico y recibió una multa.
The driver committed a traffic violation and received a fine.
No te preocupes, todos podemos cometer errores.
Don't worry, we can all make mistakes.
Jamás cometería un acto tan deshonesto.
I would never commit such a dishonest act.
Always Needs an Action Receiver
Unlike English, where you can sometimes just 'commit,' in Spanish, 'cometer' always needs to be followed immediately by the mistake or crime being done: 'cometer un error' (commit an error).
Using 'Cometer' for Dedication
Mistake: “Quiero cometer a mi trabajo.”
Correction: Quiero dedicarme a mi trabajo. ('Cometer' is for negative actions; use 'dedicarse' or 'comprometerse' for dedication or promise.)
Hacer vs. Preparar for Food
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