🔄 To become in Spanish: How to express change in Spanish 🧐

In Spanish, expressing the idea of 'becoming' is not as simple as translating one word. There are several verbs used depending on the type of change or transformation that’s being described. These verbs are key to expressing different states, emotions, or even personal transformations! 🎉

In this blog, we’ll dive into the four main verbs for 'to become' in Spanish, explaining when to use each one in different contexts, along with helpful examples, tips, and pronunciation guides. Let’s get started! 👇

1️⃣ What is the verb 'to become' in Spanish?

There are several ways to express 'to become' in Spanish, and each verb is used for a specific type of change. Here's a breakdown:

🔄 Convertirse en (to turn into, to become something completely different) 

This verb is used for total transformations and can refer to both physical and abstract changes.

Example: El príncipe se convirtió en sapo. 🐸 (The prince turned into a frog.)

🌱 Volverse (to turn, to become, typically with personality) 

Volverse refers to a sudden or unexpected change, especially in personality or behaviour. It’s used when someone’s character or attitude changes dramatically.

Example: Se volvió muy amable después de conocerla. 💖 (He became very kind after meeting her.)

🌞 Ponerse (to become, used for temporary changes in state) 

Ponerse is used when there is a temporary change, usually related to emotions, health, or colour.

Example: Me puse nervioso antes del examen. 😰 (I became nervous before the exam.)

👩‍💼 Hacerse (to become, a voluntary change or transformation, often related to professions or personal development) 

This verb is used when someone voluntarily becomes something, such as a profession or a belief system.

Example: Se hizo vegetariano para mejorar su salud. 🥗 (He became vegetarian to improve his health.)

2️⃣ What is the difference between 'convertirse' and 'volverse'?🤔

Both convertirse and volverse mean “to become,” but they’re used in different contexts depending on the kind of change you're talking about. Let’s dive in and see how they differ! 🌟

🔄 Convertirse en: This verb is used when there’s a complete transformation. Imagine something changing into something entirely different, like water turning into ice 🧊 or a caterpillar turning into a butterfly 🦋. It refers to a drastic and permanent change. When you say something se convierte en (it turns into), you are usually talking about something big, something that alters the very essence of the thing. 

For example:  ❄️ El agua se convierte en hielo cuando hace frío. (Water turns into ice when it’s cold.)

🧠 Volverse: On the other hand, volverse is about a sudden change, often related to personality or emotional shifts. It’s not as permanent or physical as convertirse, but more about a shift in attitude or how someone feels. Think of it as a gradual transformation in someone's behavior, attitude, or even personality. 💭

For example: Se volvió optimista después de la terapia. 💪 (He became optimistic after therapy.)

💡 Quick tip:

💪 Convertirse = Complete physical change – something entirely different! 

🧘‍♀️ Volverse = Sudden emotional or personality change – it’s more about how someone reacts or feels. 

3️⃣ Does 'ponerse' mean 'to become'? 😕

Yes, 'ponerse' can mean “to become”, but only for temporary states or emotions. 🌟 It's the perfect verb when describing how feelings, moods, or even physical changes happen suddenly or last for a short period. ⏳

🌞 When do we use 'ponerse'?

You’ll often hear it used with adjectives to talk about things like emotions, moods, or temporary changes in appearance. 💭 Let’s take a look at some examples: 👀

Example: 😳 Me puse rojo cuando me hicieron un cumplido. (I became red when they gave me a compliment.)

💬 Explanation: This is a temporary change in appearance (flushing from a compliment). 

Example: 😢 Se puso triste después de escuchar las noticias.  (He became sad after hearing the news.)

💔 Explanation: A temporary emotional reaction to something that happened. 

📝 Remember: Ponerse is not for permanent changes! ❌ It's used for temporary emotional states or physical reactions that happen in the moment. So next time you're feeling a little nervous, excited, or even embarrassed, you can use ponerse to describe it! 🙌

⏳ So, in short: Ponerse = Temporary change (emotion, appearance, or state). 

When learning Spanish, it’s important to know the subtle differences between verbs like 'hacerse' and 'volverse'. These two verbs both mean 'to become', but they are used in different contexts depending on whether the change is voluntary or involuntary. Let's explore them! 🌟

🔄 Hacerse (Voluntary change) 💪

'Hacerse' is used when the change is voluntary and often requires effort or work. It’s the verb you’ll use when someone becomes something after deliberate effort, such as achieving a goal or making a personal decision. 💼

Example: Se hizo doctor tras muchos años de esfuerzo. 🎓 (He became a doctor after many years of hard work.)

⚡ Volverse (Involuntary change) 😲

'Volverse' refers to an involuntary change, often used to describe a sudden shift, especially in someone's personality or behaviour.🌀 This verb conveys a change of attitude or nature that happens almost without control.

Example: 😔 Se volvió muy introvertido después del accidente. (He became very introverted after the accident.)

💡 Tip: Use 'hacerse' when talking about something that takes effort or is voluntary (like choosing a profession, lifestyle, or goal). 🌱 Use 'volverse' when describing a sudden change, especially in a person’s character or attitude. ⚡

📝 In short:  Hacerse = Effortful change 
                              Volverse = Sudden change 🌪

So, whether you're describing someone's career transformation or a personality shift, choosing the right verb will help you sound more natural in Spanish! ✨

5️⃣ To become in Spanish: Conjugation examples 📅

6️⃣ Other useful expressions with 'to become' in Spanish 😎

Here are even more expressions and phrases that use 'to become' in Spanish. These will help you sound fluent and natural when speaking Spanish. So, let's check them out! ✨

🏍️ Ponerse como una moto – To get excited or pumped up 😄

Example: ¡Cuando le dijeron la noticia, se puso como una moto! 👉 (When they told him the news, he got super excited!)

🌀 Hacerse un lío – I got confused 

Example: Estaba explicando el problema, pero me hice un lío con los detalles.👉 (I was explaining the problem, but I got confused with the details.)

😤 Ponerse en serio – It gets serious 

Example: Si quieres aprobar, tienes que ponerte en serio. 👉 (If you want to pass, you have to get serious.)

⏰ Hacerse tarde –  It’s getting late.

Example: Vámonos ya, que se está haciendo tarde. 👉 (Let’s go now, it’s getting late.)

😡 Ponerse de mala leche – To get really angry

Example: Se puso de mala leche cuando supo que no podía ir. 👉 (He got really angry when he found out he couldn’t go.)

🫣 Ponerse nervioso/a – I get nervous 

Example: Me pongo nervioso/a cuando hablo en público. 👉  (I get nervous when I speak in public.)

🤷‍♂️ Hacerse el sueco – To pretend not to know (literally, 'to act Swedish') 

Example: Cuando pregunté por él, se hizo el sueco y no contestó. 👉 (When I asked for him, he pretended not to know and didn’t answer.)

🔋Ponerse las pilas– To get active or motivated ⚡

Example: Se puso las pilas y terminó todo el trabajo antes de la fecha límite.  👉 (He got motivated and finished all the work before the deadline.)

🤪 Volverse loco/a – To go crazy, either in a fun way or because of stress 

Example: ¡Se volvió loco/a buscando las llaves! 👉 (He went crazy looking for the keys!)

😢 Hacerse la víctima – To play the victim (to exaggerate or feign being wronged) 

Example: Siempre se hace la víctima, aunque sabe que cometió el error. 👉 (She always plays the victim, even though she knows she made the mistake.)