How to Say “Check” in Spanish

Ways to say it

The verb 'check' can be expressed in several ways depending on the context. In many practical situations, such as checking an email, a document or a car, Spanish speakers often use the verb revisar.

Which one should you use?

While verificar is used for the formal verification of data or facts, comprobar is the more common, everyday way to say 'to check' or 'to make sure' of something. Use comparar specifically when the act of checking involves looking at two or more things to see how they differ.

Is it said differently in some regions?

In Mexico and parts of Latin America, you may hear the word checar. While it is widely used and understood in those regions, it is not considered standard Spanish in Spain or in formal contexts.

Related words

Bill, particularly at a restaurant (noun): cuenta.

Chess: when the king is directly threatened by an enemy piece (noun): jaque.

How does it change in a sentence?

When using comprobar with a direct object pronoun like lo (it), the pronoun is attached to the end of the infinitive to form a single word: comprobarlo.

How do you pronounce it?

/beɾifiˈkaɾ/

What mistakes should you avoid?

English speakers might be tempted to use checar, a Spanglish adaptation. While common in certain regions like Mexico, avoid using it in formal contexts or when speaking standard Spanish in Spain.