hacer
/aˈθeɾ/
The Spanish phrase for 'to make' is hacer.
hacer is used both for the English meaning 'to make' (creating something) and for the English meaning 'to do' (performing an action).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina and Uruguay, the verb 'armar' is used to convey the idea of making or assembling something. In Spain, people often say montar una fiesta instead of hacer una fiesta to mean organizing or making a party.
How does it change in a sentence?
The first-person singular present indicative form of hacer is hago. The preterite (past tense) form for the first-person singular is hice.
How do you pronounce it?
/aˈθeɾ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the verb realizar for 'to make' or 'to do' in many contexts where hacer is the natural choice.
Did you know?
- In Spanish, weather is described using hacer rather than 'to be'. To say 'it is cold' or 'it is hot', a speaker says hace frío or hace calor, literally claiming the weather 'makes' that temperature.
- The Spanish word hacer shares a prehistoric ancestor with the English word 'do'. Both originate from the Proto-Indo-European root *dʰeh₁-, which meant 'to put' or 'to place'.
- The verb hacer can be used to express a fake or simulated action. Using hacerse el dormido means 'to pretend to be asleep', where hacer acts as 'to play a part'.
Examples in context
- Voy a hacer un jugo.I am going to make a juice.This sentence shows how to use hacer for preparing a drink.Tatoeba #2306892 by hayastan, translation #11960160 by JPDavidson
- Quiero hacer una torta.I want to make a pie.This sentence shows how to use hacer for preparing food.Tatoeba #4329516 by pchamorro, translation #2361775 by CK
- Debemos hacer el cambio.We have to make the change.This sentence shows how to use hacer for performing an action like making a change.Tatoeba #7291194 by arh, translation #5737707 by CM
- Hacer una tortaTo make a cake
- Hacer una llamadaTo make a call
- Hacer negociosTo do business
- Hacer una reservaTo make a reservation
- Crear una pinturaTo create a painting
- Crear una estrategiaTo create a strategy
- Crear una empresaTo create a company
- Fabricar mueblesTo make furniture
- Fabricar automóvilesTo manufacture cars
- Fabricar productos electrónicosTo produce electronic goods
- Hacer algo de comerTo make something to eat
- Hacer algo divertidoTo make something fun
- Hacer algo creativoTo make something creative
- Hacer algo especialTo make something special
- Armar una fiestaTo throw/make a party
- Armar un muebleTo assemble/make furniture
- Armar un rompecabezasTo put together/make a puzzle
- preparar una cenaTo make dinner
- 337 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Daniel are in the kitchen planning their lunch.
- Daniel¿Qué quieres hacer de comer?What do you want to make for food?
- LucíaPodemos hacer una ensalada fresca.We can make a fresh salad.
- DanielMe parece una buena idea.That sounds like a good idea to me.
- LucíaYo voy a hacer la ensalada.I will make the salad.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry hacer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hacer, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
