What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of probar (to test or try) and the reflexive pronoun se (oneself), which literally translates to 'to try oneself' when referring to clothing.
Which one should you use?
It is important to distinguish between probar and probarse. Use probar without the reflexive pronoun to mean testing a machine, a theory or a food. Use probarse specifically for the act of putting on clothes or accessories.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because this is a reflexive verb, you must use reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, os, se) to show who is performing the action. For example, in the first person singular present tense, 'I try on' is expressed as me pruebo. When you use an object pronoun like lo (it) with this verb, the reflexive pronoun se remains attached to the front of the conjugated verb, as seen in se lo prueba (he/she tries it on).
How do you pronounce it?
/pɾobaɾse/
Did you know?
- While probarse is the standard way to say 'to try on', in some Latin American regions, you may hear people use medirse (to measure oneself) to mean the same thing.
- The verb probar is the root of the English word 'probe', as both come from the Latin 'probare', meaning to test or prove.
- While probarse is for clothes, Spanish uses the phrase probar el terreno (to test the ground) as an idiom meaning to feel out a situation before acting.
Examples in context
- ¿Puedo probarme esto?Can I try this on?
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
