mover
/moˈbeɾ/
The Spanish verb for move is mover.
mover is used to describe the act of moving, stirring or budging. However, the word choice depends on the context of the move. If you are talking about moving residences, you should use mudarse. If you are referring to moving from one workplace to another, use trasladarse.
Meaning: (intransitive) to change place or posture, to go (verb)
Which one should you use?
mover is a transitive verb used when you are moving an object. In contrast, if the subject is moving its own body, you use the reflexive form moverse to mean to move oneself.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain regions of Latin America, the phrase cambiarse de casa may be used instead of mudarse specifically to refer to moving residences.
How does it change in a sentence?
When expressing that a person or animal is moving their own body, the reflexive form moverse is used instead of mover.
How do you pronounce it?
/moˈbeɾ/
Did you know?
- While mudarse is the standard term for moving house, the word muda also refers to the process of an animal shedding its skin or feathers.
- The word mover is used in the phrase mover el piso, which literally means to move the floor but figuratively means to shake someone's world or surprise them deeply.
- The English word 'move' and the Spanish verb mover share a common ancestor in the Proto-Indo-European root *m(y)ewh₁-, which linked both languages to a prehistoric concept of motion.
Examples in context
- No me puedo mover.I can't move.This sentence shows how to use the reflexive form to express being unable to move.Tatoeba #524381 by Shishir, translation #280208 by CK
- No me podía mover.I couldn't move.This sentence shows how to use the reflexive form to express a past inability to move.Tatoeba #6637150 by arh, translation #2308263 by CK
- No tuve que moverlo.I didn't have to move it.This sentence shows the transitive use of mover when referring to moving an object.Tatoeba #2314180 by marcelostockle, translation #2290313 by CK
- Muévase, por favorMove, please
- Desplácese hacia el área designadaMove to the designated area
- Nos trasladamos a una nueva ubicaciónWe are moving to a new location
- Necesito movermeI need to move
- Por favor, muévase hacia el fondo del pasilloPlease move to the back of the aisle
- Amigo, muévete un poco para que pueda pasarFriend, move a little so I can pass
- Creo que deberíamos mudarnos a un apartamento más grandeI think we should move to a bigger apartment
- 94 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are trying to fit more people on a bench.
- AlejandroElena, ¿puedes moverte un poco?Elena, can you move a little bit?
- ElenaSí, me voy a mover ahora.Yes, I am going to move now.
- AlejandroGracias, así hay más espacio.Thanks, this way there is more space.
- ElenaNo hay problema, Alejandro.No problem, Alejandro.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry mover, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mover, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
