How to Say "to switch" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “to switch” is “cambiar” — A2 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
¿Dónde puedo cambiar dinero?
Where can I exchange money?
Necesito cambiar esta camisa por una talla más grande.
I need to exchange this shirt for a larger size.
Cambiamos los muebles de lugar para tener más espacio.
We changed the furniture around (switched the places of the furniture) to have more space.
The Magic Word: 'por'
When you exchange one thing FOR another, always use the word 'por'. The structure is: cambiar [thing A] por [thing B]. For example, 'Cambié mi sándwich por tu ensalada' (I traded my sandwich for your salad).
Using 'para' Instead of 'por'
Mistake: “Quiero cambiar este billete para monedas.”
Correction: Quiero cambiar este billete por monedas. In an exchange, 'por' is the word that means 'in return for'. 'Para' means 'for the purpose of' and doesn't fit here.
Related Translations
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.