procesar
/pɾoθeˈsaɾ/
To process in Spanish is procesar. Wiktionary also lists tratar.
Meaning: to perform a particular process (verb)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| procesar | /pɾoθeˈsaɾ/ /pɾoseˈsaɾ/ |
| tratar | /tɾaˈtaɾ/ |
Procesar is used in technical contexts, specifically for computational or data-driven processing, such as processing data, files or orders. The related noun proceso refers to a path of succession of states through which a system passes or a series of events used to produce a result.
Which one should you use?
While procesar is used for technical or data-driven processing, tratar is used when the English word 'process' refers to handling or treating a person, a subject or a material.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participle procesado can be used as an adjective to describe things that have undergone a process, such as alimentos procesados (processed foods).
How do you pronounce it?
/pɾoθeˈsaɾ/
Did you know?
- In a legal context, procesar does not mean to handle data but to formally charge someone with a crime or put them on trial.
- While tratar means to process or treat, it is also the most common verb used to say 'to try' or 'to attempt' when followed by the word de.
- The verb tratar is a distant relative of the English word 'treat', but its Latin roots actually mean 'to drag' or 'to pull'.
Examples in context
- La información viene más rápido de lo que la gente puede procesar.Information comes faster than people can process it.This sentence shows how to use procesar when discussing the speed of information processing.Tatoeba #10067465 by manufrutos, translation #10061917 by shekitten
- Durante el proceso de producción, los materiales pasan por varias etapas antes de convertirse en el producto final.During the production process, the materials go through several stages before becoming the final product.
- Juan siempre se mete en líos durante el proceso de organización de eventos.Juan always gets into trouble during the event planning process.
- El trámite para obtener la visa es más sencillo de lo que parece.The visa process is simpler than it seems.
- El sistema va a procesar el pedido ahora.The system is going to process the order now.
- Necesitamos procesar todos estos datos nuevos.We need to process all this new data.
Example conversation
In an office, discussing a pending digital task.
- AlejandroSofía, ¿puedes procesar estos documentos?Sofía, can you process these documents?
- SofíaSí, Alejandro, lo haré enseguida.Yes, Alejandro, I will do it right away.
- AlejandroGracias, es un trabajo importante.Thank you, it is an important job.
- SofíaNo hay problema, yo lo gestiono.No problem, I'll handle it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “process” translations and entries procesar, tratar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries procesar, tratar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
