Inklingo

How to Say "to raise" in Spanish

English → Spanish

aumentar

ow-men-TAR/aw.menˈtaɾ/

verbA1general
Use 'aumentar' when you want to express an increase in quantity, size, or intensity, such as raising salary, price, or volume.
A visual depiction of increase, showing a small pile of red apples beside a significantly larger pile of red apples, illustrating an increase in quantity.

Examples

Necesitamos aumentar la velocidad para llegar a tiempo.

We need to increase the speed to arrive on time.

El jefe prometió aumentar mi salario el próximo año.

The boss promised to raise my salary next year.

Por favor, aumenta el volumen de la música.

Please, turn up the volume of the music.

Using 'Aumentar' Transitively

In this sense, 'aumentar' is transitive, meaning it must act upon a direct object (the thing being increased): 'Aumento [el volumen].'

Confusing Transitive and Intransitive

Mistake: “La temperatura se aumentó el sol. (The sun increased the temperature.)”

Correction: El sol aumentó la temperatura. (The sun increased the temperature.) – Only use 'se' if the temperature increases itself.

criar

kree-AR/kɾiˈaɾ/

verbA1general
Use 'criar' specifically when referring to the act of bringing up children or offspring, meaning to nurture and educate them.
A mother holding the hand of a young child, walking together through a sunny field.

Examples

Ellos criaron a tres hijos en el campo.

They raised three children in the countryside.

¿Quién te crió? ¿Tu abuela?

Who brought you up? Your grandmother?

The Stress on the 'i'

Notice the accent mark over the 'i' in the present tense (crío, crías, cría, crían). This is because the stress falls on the 'i', separating it from the 'a'. This is why it acts like a regular verb but looks a little irregular!

Confusing 'Criar' and 'Crear'

Mistake: “Using 'crear' when you mean 'to raise' ('Yo creo mis hijos').”

Correction: Use 'criar' (Yo crío mis hijos). 'Crear' means 'to create' (like art or a new idea).

subir

soo-BEER/suˈβiɾ/

verbB1general
Use 'subir' when referring to an upward movement or increase in level, commonly applied to things like volume, heat, or prices/taxes.
A towering, unstable stack of stylized gold coins growing taller from a flat surface, symbolizing an increase in value.

Examples

El gobierno decidió subir los impuestos este año.

The government decided to raise the taxes this year.

¿Podrías subir el volumen? No oigo nada.

Could you turn up the volume? I can't hear anything.

La temperatura va a subir mañana, hará mucho calor.

The temperature is going to go up tomorrow; it will be very hot.

Don't confuse 'aumentar' with 'subir' for prices

While both can mean to increase, 'aumentar' is more general for quantity or level, whereas 'subir' often implies a more direct, upward movement or elevation. For prices or taxes, both can be used, but 'subir' emphasizes the act of raising them.

Related Translations

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