Inklingo

How to Say "we perform" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “we perform” is “hacemos” — use 'hacemos' when referring to 'we do' or 'we make' in a general sense, like carrying out any task or activity..

English → Spanish

hacemos

/ah-SEH-mos//aˈse.mos/

VerbA1General
Use 'hacemos' when referring to 'we do' or 'we make' in a general sense, like carrying out any task or activity.
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Examples

¿Qué hacemos esta noche?

What are we doing tonight?

Nosotros hacemos la cena todos los días.

We make dinner every day.

Hacemos ejercicio en el parque.

We exercise in the park.

The 'We' Form for Now or Always

'Hacemos' is how you say 'we do' or 'we make' for actions happening right now or that happen regularly. It's the 'nosotros/nosotras' (we) form of the verb 'hacer' in the present tense.

Action vs. Being

Mistake: “Hacemos felices.”

Correction: Estamos felices. (We are happy.) 'Hacemos' is for actions you perform, like 'hacemos la cena' (we make dinner). To describe a state of being, like being happy or tired, you use 'estar'.

damos

/DAH-mos//ˈda.mos/

VerbB1General
Use 'damos' specifically when 'we perform' means to provide a service, give a presentation, or put on a show.
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Examples

Damos mucha importancia a la puntualidad.

We place a lot of importance on punctuality.

Los árboles de nuestro jardín damos mucho fruto este año.

The trees in our garden are yielding a lot of fruit this year. (Used less commonly with 'nosotros' unless referring to a group of people/plants, but demonstrates the meaning)

Damos un discurso al final de la ceremonia.

We give/deliver a speech at the end of the ceremony.

Expressions of Time and Location

'Dar' is used in phrases related to time or location, often translating to 'to face' or 'to strike'. Example: 'Nuestra ventana da al mar' (Our window faces the sea).

Literal Translation of 'To Hit'

Mistake: “Using 'damos' to mean 'we hit' in a physical fight ('Damos al hombre').”

Correction: While 'dar' can mean 'to hit' in some contexts, 'pegar' or 'golpear' are much more common and natural for physical striking. 'Damos un golpe' (We give a blow) is better.

General vs. Specific Performance

Learners often confuse 'hacemos' and 'damos' by using 'hacemos' for specific performances like shows or services. Remember that 'damos' is the more precise verb for these specific contexts, while 'hacemos' covers general actions and tasks.

Related Translations

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