maquillarse
/makiʝaɾse/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'put on makeup' is translated into Spanish as maquillarse.
The verb maquillarse is used to describe the entire process of applying cosmetics to one's face.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In many Latin American countries, the phrase ponerse maquillaje is commonly used to express 'put on makeup'.
How does it change in a sentence?
maquillarse is a reflexive verb, which means the action is performed on oneself. When you conjugate it in the first person singular, you use the reflexive pronoun me to say me maquillo (I put on makeup). When you conjugate it in the third person singular, you must use the reflexive pronoun se to say se maquilla (she/he puts on makeup).
How do you pronounce it?
/makiʝaɾse/
Did you know?
- The root word maquillaje comes from the French word maquillage, which itself likely derives from the Italian macchia, meaning 'stain' or 'spot'.
- In some contexts, maquillar is used as a slang term in accounting to mean 'cooking the books' or falsifying financial records.
- In some Spanish-speaking contexts, if someone says they are maquillando a stage or a set, they are not applying cosmetics to a person, but rather applying paint or scenery to a theatrical production.
Examples in context
- Las modelos se aplican maquillaje antes de desfilarThe models put on makeup before walking the runway
- Antes de la presentación, la cantante se puso maquillajeBefore the performance, the singer put on makeup
- Antes de salir, ella se echó maquillajeBefore going out, she put on makeup
- Me gusta maquillarme antes de salir a una fiestaI like to put on makeup before going to a party
- Voy a maquillarme antes de salirI'm going to put on makeup before going out
- Me voy a maquillar para la fiestaI'm going to put on makeup for the party
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry maquillarse, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
