Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| juntar | /xunˈtaɾ/ |
| unir | /uˈniɾ/ |
| aunar | /auˈnaɾ/ |
| empalmar | /empalˈmaɾ/ |
The word 'join' in Spanish refers to combining more than one item into one or putting things together.
Which one should you use?
Use juntar when you are physically gathering or putting items together. To express 'to combine' or 'to pool' abstract concepts like efforts, resources or ideas, use aunar. When you want to express becoming a member of a group, organization or team, use unir in its reflexive form unirse a.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you are joining a group or an organization, you must use the reflexive form unirse followed by the preposition a (unirse a).
How do you pronounce it?
/xunˈtaɾ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using juntar when you mean to join a club, team or group. In Spanish, juntar implies physically gathering objects together, whereas unirse a is the correct way to describe becoming a member.
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, juntar is used colloquially to describe a couple moving in together without being married.
- In certain contexts, the word empalmar can mean to join or connect things, but it is also used colloquially to describe 'joining' two shifts or periods of time together.
- In a social context, if someone says estamos juntos, they are not just 'joined' or 'together', but are likely in a romantic relationship.
Examples in context
- ¿Te unirás a nosotros?Will you join us?This sentence shows how to use unir to ask about joining a group of people.Tatoeba #1999986 by marcelostockle, translation #237669 by CK
- Quería unirme a tu grupo.I wanted to join your group.This sentence demonstrates using unir to express a desire to join a group.Tatoeba #1275927 by Shishir, translation #10367226 by DJ_Saidez
- ¿Puedes unirte al equipo?Can you join the team?This sentence illustrates how to use unir when asking someone to join a team.Tatoeba #9546939 by dpcossio, translation #6440367 by CK
- Me gustaría unirme a su equipo de trabajo.I would like to join your work team.
- ¿Te gustaría unirte a nuestra organización benéfica?Would you like to join our charity organization?
- Ana se incorporará a nuestra empresa el próximo mes.Ana will join our company next month.
- Queremos agradecer a todos los nuevos miembros que se han incorporado.We want to thank all the new members who have joined.
- Decidí sumarme a la lucha contra el cambio climático.I decided to join the fight against climate change.
- Es importante que todos se sumen a esta importante campaña de concienciación.It's important for everyone to join this awareness campaign.
- Ven con nosotros al concierto, te divertirás mucho.Come join us at the concert, you'll have a great time.
- ¿Vienes a jugar fútbol con nosotros?Are you coming to play soccer with us?
- Mis amigos me acompañaron en mi viaje por España.My friends joined me on my trip to Spain.
- ¿Me acompañas al cine esta noche?Will you join me at the movies tonight?
- ¿Te apuntas a la excursión de fin de semana?Are you joining the weekend trip?
- Los chicos se apuntaron para cantar en el coro de la escuela.The boys joined the school choir.
- 51 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Sofía are organizing some files at the office.
- JavierSofía, ¿puedes juntar estos papeles?Sofía, can you join these papers together?
- SofíaSí, Javier, los voy a juntar.Yes, Javier, I am going to join them.
- JavierGracias, es mejor si los juntas.Thanks, it is better if you join them.
- SofíaDe nada, ya los tengo juntos.You're welcome, I already have them joined.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “join” translations and entries juntar, unir, aunar, empalmar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
