arreglarse
/areɡlaɾse/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'get dressed up' is translated into Spanish as arreglarse.
arreglarse is used when preparing one's appearance for a specific social event, such as arreglarse para una fiesta (to get dressed up for a party). You can emphasize that a person is putting significant effort into their appearance by adding the adverb 'bien', resulting in arreglarse bien (to dress up well).
What does it mean word for word?
The verb is composed of arreglar (to fix/arrange) and the reflexive pronoun se (oneself), literally meaning 'to fix oneself'.
Which one should you use?
While vestirse means the general act of putting on clothes, arreglarse implies a higher level of effort, such as grooming or dressing up for an occasion.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the phrase vestirse de etiqueta is commonly used to convey the idea of getting dressed up in formal attire. In some Latin American countries, the phrase arreglarse de fiesta is used to refer to getting dressed up for a party.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the preterite tense, the reflexive pronoun se is used to indicate that the subject performed the action on themselves, such as in se arregló (he/she got dressed up).
How do you pronounce it?
/areɡlaɾse/
Did you know?
- The verb arreglar is used for everything from fixing a broken chair to resolving a romantic dispute or settling a legal matter.
- The term etiqueta in vestirse de etiqueta comes from the French word for a label or ticket, originally referring to the strict rules of court protocol.
- While arreglarse is common, some regions use the phrase ponerse guapo or ponerse bella to mean getting dressed up.
Examples in context
- Me voy a arreglar para la fiesta de esta noche.I'm going to get dressed up for tonight's party.
- Me voy a poner guapa para la cita con mi pareja.I'm going to get dressed up for my date with my partner.
- Me voy a arreglar de fiesta para la celebración del cumpleaños de mi amiga.I'm going to get dressed up for my friend's birthday party celebration.
- Tenemos que vestirnos de etiqueta para asistir a la boda de mi hermana.We have to get dressed up in formal attire to attend my sister's wedding.
- Me voy a arreglar y ponerme guapo/a para la cena de gala.I'm going to get dressed up and make myself look handsome/pretty for the gala dinner.
- Él quiere arreglarse para la boda.He wants to get dressed up for the wedding.
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are preparing for a wedding.
- SofíaMateo, ¿ya empezaste a arreglarse?Mateo, have you started to get dressed up yet?
- MateoNo, todavía no sé qué ponerme.No, I still don't know what to wear.
- SofíaDate prisa o llegaremos tarde.Hurry up or we will be late.
- MateoEstá bien, voy a arreglarse ahora mismo.All right, I'm going to get dressed up right now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
