Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| contribuir | /kontɾiˈbwiɾ/ |
| aportar | /apoɾˈtaɾ/ |
The verb contribuir is used to express the act of giving something that becomes part of a larger whole. It is often used in formal or abstract contexts, such as contributing to a cause, a fund or a social movement. You may also use the expression poner su granito de arena, which means to contribute one's grain of sand, signifying that someone is making a small contribution towards a larger goal. In informal settings, the colloquial expression echar una mano can be used to mean contributing or helping out.
Which one should you use?
While both contribuir and aportar mean to contribute, aportar is a formal alternative that emphasizes providing or adding something. Specifically, aportar is more frequently used when talking about contributing specific ideas, data or resources to a project or discussion.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the verb contribuir, it is almost always followed by the preposition a to indicate what is being contributed to.
How do you pronounce it?
/kontɾiˈbwiɾ/
Did you know?
- The verb aportar shares its roots with the word for 'port' or 'harbor', as it originally stems from the Latin 'portāre', meaning 'to carry'.
- The verb contribuir is used specifically for taxes in many Spanish-speaking countries, often appearing in the phrase contribuir al gasto público.
- The expression poner su granito de arena is so common that it is often used in official government speeches and corporate slogans to describe civic duty.
Examples in context
- ¿Desea contribuir al programa?Would you like to contribute to the program?This sentence shows how to use contribuir to ask about contributing to a program.Tatoeba #656377 by MondCivitano, translation #703307 by papabear
- Todo el mundo puede contribuir.Everyone is free to contribute.This sentence illustrates the general use of contribuir regarding everyone's ability to contribute.Tatoeba #705735 by Shishir, translation #704150 by jakov
- Desearía tener algo con que aportar.I wish I had something to contribute.This sentence demonstrates the use of aportar to express a desire to contribute something.Tatoeba #1167843 by marcelostockle, translation #1167844 by CK
- Todos debemos contribuir a la sociedad de una manera positivaWe all must contribute to society in a positive manner
- Quiero aportar mi experiencia en el desarrollo de softwareI want to contribute my experience in software development
- Colaboraré con el equipo para contribuir al éxito del proyectoI will collaborate with the team to contribute to the project's success
- Si necesitas ayuda con la presentación, puedo echarte una manoIf you need help with the presentation, I can lend you a hand
- Cada uno de nosotros puede poner su granito de arena para proteger el medio ambienteEach of us can contribute our grain of sand to protect the environment
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are discussing a community garden project.
- MateoQuiero contribuir con algunas semillas.I want to contribute some seeds.
- SofíaEso sería una gran ayuda, Mateo.That would be a great help, Mateo.
- Mateo¿Puedes contribuir tú con herramientas?Can you contribute tools?
- SofíaSí, yo puedo contribuir con eso.Yes, I can contribute with that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “contribute” translations and entries contribuir, aportar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aportar, contribuir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
