Inklingo

How to Say "to move" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “to move” is “moverse” — use this when talking about a person or animal changing their physical position or location, often on their own..

English → Spanish

moverse

moh-VEHR-seh/moˈβeɾse/

verbA1general
Use this when talking about a person or animal changing their physical position or location, often on their own.
A small red ball is depicted mid-air, having just rolled off a blue surface onto a green surface below, illustrating motion.

Examples

El bebé ya puede moverse solo por toda la casa.

The baby can already move by himself all over the house.

¡Muévete un poco! Estás bloqueando la vista.

Move a little! You're blocking the view.

Me moví para dejarle espacio en el sofá.

I shifted to make space for him on the sofa.

The 'Se' Makes It Reflexive

The 'se' at the end tells you that the person doing the action is also receiving the action. If you just use 'mover' (without the 'se'), you are moving an object (e.g., 'mover la silla' - to move the chair).

Stem Change in Present Tense

In the present tense, the 'o' inside the verb changes to 'ue' for most forms (muevo, mueves, mueve, mueven), but not for 'nosotros' or 'vosotros' (movemos, movéis).

Forgetting the Reflexive Pronoun

Mistake: “Yo muevo a la fiesta.”

Correction: Yo me muevo a la fiesta. (Always use me/te/se/nos/os/se when you mean 'I move myself.')

mover

moh-VEHR/moˈβeɾ/

verbA1general
Use this when you are physically displacing an object from one spot to another.
A person wearing a blue shirt is pushing a large brown wooden box across a smooth floor, demonstrating physical displacement.

Examples

Tienes que mover la mesa para que quepa.

You have to move the table so it fits.

Ella mueve la cabeza diciendo que no.

She shakes her head saying no.

¿Puedes mover la cuchara en la sopa, por favor?

Can you stir the spoon in the soup, please?

Su discurso me movió profundamente; casi lloro.

Her speech moved me deeply; I almost cried.

Stem-Changing Verb

This verb is irregular because the 'o' changes to 'ue' in the present tense (muevo, mueves, mueve, mueven). Remember that the 'we' (nosotros) and 'you all' (vosotros) forms are exceptions and keep the 'o' (movemos, movéis).

Emotional Causation

In this sense, 'mover' describes something causing an emotional reaction in someone else. The thing that causes the feeling is the subject, and the person feeling it is the object.

Forgetting the Stem Change

Mistake: “Yo movo la caja.”

Correction: Yo muevo la caja. Remember the 'o' changes to 'ue' when the stress is on the verb stem.

ir

/eer//iɾ/

verbA1general
Use this when the primary meaning is traveling or going to a specific destination.
A person walking along a path that leads towards a distant, sunlit mountain, representing the verb 'ir' which means 'to go'.

Examples

Voy a la tienda.

I'm going to the store.

¿Ustedes van al cine esta noche?

Are you all going to the movies tonight?

Mis padres fueron a España el año pasado.

My parents went to Spain last year.

Talking About the Future: Ir + a + verb

A very common way to talk about the future is using 'ir' like 'going to'. Just use the right form of 'ir', add 'a', and then the action verb. Example: 'Voy a comer' means 'I am going to eat'.

Always Use 'a' for Destinations

When you say you are going to a place, you almost always need the little word 'a' after 'ir'. Example: 'Voy a la playa' (I'm going to the beach).

Confusing 'ir' and 'venir'

Mistake: “'Vengo a la tienda ahora.' (When you are currently at home, not at the store).”

Correction: 'Voy a la tienda ahora.' Use 'ir' for movement away from you (going), and 'venir' for movement towards you (coming).

Crazy Past Tense Forms

Mistake: “Thinking the past tense is 'yo í' or 'yo fuió'.”

Correction: The past tense of 'ir' is totally different: 'fui, fuiste, fue...'. It's weird, but you just have to memorize it. The good news? It's the exact same as the past tense for 'ser' (to be)!

movernos

/mo-BER-nos//moˈβernos/

verbA2general
Use this reflexive form when you and at least one other person need to physically shift position or location together.
A group of happy people walking together along a winding path in a green field.

Examples

Necesitamos movernos para ver mejor el concierto.

We need to move to see the concert better.

Es difícil movernos con tantas maletas.

It's hard for us to move with so many suitcases.

The 'nos' at the end

The word 'nos' at the end of the verb means 'us' or 'ourselves.' In Spanish, when we use a 'to' form of a verb (the infinitive), we glue these pronouns directly to the end.

Stem-changing verb

The base verb 'mover' changes its 'o' to 'ue' in most present tense forms, but it stays as 'o' in the 'nosotros' (we) forms, like 'movernos' and 'nos movemos'.

Saying 'mover nos'

Mistake: “No podemos mover nos.”

Correction: No podemos movernos.

mudarse

/moo-DAHR-seh//muˈðarse/

verbA2general
Use this when talking about changing your place of residence or moving house.
A stack of cardboard boxes and a small plant sitting in an empty, brightly lit living room.

Examples

Me mudo a un apartamento nuevo mañana.

I am moving to a new apartment tomorrow.

¿Por qué decidieron mudarse a España?

Why did they decide to move to Spain?

Using the 'se' part

The 'se' at the end means this verb is reflexive. It shows that you are moving yourself to a new location. You must change the 'me, te, se' part to match the person doing the action.

Mover vs. Mudarse

Mistake: “Using 'mover' to say you are moving to a new house.”

Correction: Use 'mudarse' for changing homes. 'Mover' is for moving a physical object or a part of your body (like your arm).

mudar

/moo-DAHR//muˈðar/

verbA1general
Use this when referring to the act of changing your home or residence, often used in the context of a future event.
A stack of cardboard boxes and a small plant sitting on a wooden floor in a bright, empty room.

Examples

Me voy a mudar a un apartamento nuevo el próximo mes.

I am going to move to a new apartment next month.

Ellos se mudaron a España para aprender el idioma.

They moved to Spain to learn the language.

Using 'se' for Moving

When talking about moving house, we almost always add 'se' to the end (mudarse). This shows the action is happening to the person who is moving.

Mover vs. Mudar

Mistake: “Using 'mover' to say 'I am moving to a new house'.”

Correction: Use 'mudarse'. 'Mover' is for shifting objects (like a chair), but 'mudar' is for changing your home.

mover

moh-VEHR/moˈβeɾ/

verbB1general
Use this when an action or event causes an emotional impact or change in someone.
A person wearing a blue shirt is pushing a large brown wooden box across a smooth floor, demonstrating physical displacement.

Examples

Su discurso me movió profundamente; casi lloro.

Her speech moved me deeply; I almost cried.

Tienes que mover la mesa para que quepa.

You have to move the table so it fits.

Ella mueve la cabeza diciendo que no.

She shakes her head saying no.

¿Puedes mover la cuchara en la sopa, por favor?

Can you stir the spoon in the soup, please?

Stem-Changing Verb

This verb is irregular because the 'o' changes to 'ue' in the present tense (muevo, mueves, mueve, mueven). Remember that the 'we' (nosotros) and 'you all' (vosotros) forms are exceptions and keep the 'o' (movemos, movéis).

Emotional Causation

In this sense, 'mover' describes something causing an emotional reaction in someone else. The thing that causes the feeling is the subject, and the person feeling it is the object.

Forgetting the Stem Change

Mistake: “Yo movo la caja.”

Correction: Yo muevo la caja. Remember the 'o' changes to 'ue' when the stress is on the verb stem.

Moving vs. Changing Residence

Learners often confuse 'mover'/'moverse' (physical movement) with 'mudar'/'mudarse' (changing residence). Remember that 'mudar' and its reflexive form 'mudarse' specifically refer to moving house or changing where you live, while 'mover' is about shifting objects or people.

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