Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| convertirse en | /kombeɾtiɾse en/ (from spelling rules) |
| tornarse en | /toɾnaɾse en/ (from spelling rules) |
When you mean to undergo a transformation or change into something else (to become), you use convertirse en or tornarse en. However, if you mean 'turn to' in the sense of seeking help or approaching someone, you should use other verbs like acudir a, recurrir a or dirigirse a.
Which one should you use?
tornarse en is much less common in standard Spanish than convertirse en and is often used in more literary or poetic contexts to describe a change in color, state or appearance.
How does it change in a sentence?
convertirse en is a pronominal verb that requires the preposition en to link the subject to the state or identity it is becoming.
How do you pronounce it?
/kombeɾtiɾse en/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly omit the preposition en after convertirse, but en is necessary to indicate the result of the transformation.
Did you know?
- While English uses 'turn to' to mean seeking help, using the Spanish convertirse en for this purpose would mistakenly imply that you are physically transforming into the person you are asking for help.
- While convertirse en implies a total metamorphosis, Spanish uses the distinct verb volverse to describe people who turn into a different personality type, often involuntarily.
- The preposition en in the phrase convertirse en shares a common Proto-Indo-European ancestor with the English word 'in', linking the concept of transformation to the space one enters.
Examples in context
- Si necesitas ayuda, acude a tu profesor.If you need help, turn to your teacher.
- Los ciudadanos pueden recurrir al gobierno para obtener ayuda financiera.Citizens can turn to the government for financial assistance.
- El agua se convirtió en hielo.The water turned into ice.
Example conversation
María and Daniel are talking about their career goals.
- MaríaQuiero convertirse en una artista famosa.I want to become a famous artist.
- DanielEso suena genial, María.That sounds great, María.
- María¿Tú quieres convertirse en algo especial?Do you want to become something special?
- DanielSí, yo quiero convertirse en ingeniero.Yes, I want to become an engineer.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “turn to” translations, 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.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries en, CC BY-SA 4.0.
