The Animated Book
of SpanishGrammar Reference

How to Say “Become” in Spanish

Adapted from The Animated Book of Spanish, an interactive Spanish grammar book.

Spanish doesn't have one verb for become or get. Instead, it picks a verb based on the kind of change. These four cover most of them:

  1. Ponerse: a quick change

    Mood, health, or appearance, usually temporary.

    Se puso rojo.

    He turned red.

  2. Volverse: a change in character

    Who someone is, often sudden and unexpected.

    Se volvió loco.

    He went crazy.

  3. Hacerse: through effort or choice

    Jobs, beliefs, and goals you work toward.

    Se hizo médico.

    He became a doctor.

  4. Convertirse en: turning into

    A complete transformation, always with a noun.

    Se convirtió en una estrella.

    She became a star.

On this page

Ponerse: mood and appearance

Ponerse + an adjective is for quick changes in how someone feels, looks, or is doing. It's often English get or turn.

  • Me pongo nervioso antes de los exámenes.

    I get nervous before exams.

  • Cuando la vio, se puso rojo.

    When he saw her, he turned red.

  • Mi abuela se puso enferma en invierno.

    My grandma got sick in the winter.

Volverse: character

Volverse + an adjective is for deeper changes in who someone is. The change is often sudden, unexpected, and not for the better.

  • Desde que es famoso, se ha vuelto muy arrogante.

    Since he got famous, he’s become really arrogant.

  • Con los años, mi padre se volvió más tranquilo.

    Over the years, my dad got calmer.

  • Si sigo así, me voy a volver loca.

    If this keeps up, I’m going to go crazy.

Hacerse: effort and choice

Hacerse is for changes someone works toward or chooses: a job, a religion, a way of life, or getting rich. It goes with a noun or an adjective.

  • Mi hermana se hizo abogada.

    My sister became a lawyer.

  • Me hice vegetariano el año pasado.

    I became a vegetarian last year.

  • Se hicieron ricos con su empresa.

    They got rich with their company.

Convertirse en: turning into

Convertirse en is for a complete transformation, when something turns into something else. It's always followed by a noun.

  • El agua se convirtió en hielo.

    The water turned into ice.

  • La pequeña tienda se convirtió en una gran empresa.

    The little shop became a big company.

  • Su canción se convirtió en un éxito.

    Her song became a hit.

Llegar a ser and quedarse

Two more are common. Llegar a ser is for reaching something after a long time. Quedarse + an adjective is for a state left behind by something that happened, often one you didn't choose.

  • llegar a serto end up becoming

    Después de años de trabajo, llegó a ser directora.

    After years of work, she became the director.

  • quedarseto be left, to end up

    Mi abuelo se quedó ciego.

    My grandpa went blind.

Just one verb

Often, a single reflexive verb does the whole job, where English says get + an adjective.

  • Mi jefe se enojó conmigo.

    My boss got angry with me.

  • Nos cansamos rápido.

    We get tired quickly.

  • Se casaron en junio.

    They got married in June.

Common mistakes English speakers make

  1. Using hacerse for a mood

    Incorrect:Se hizo rojo.
    Correct:Se puso rojo.

    A quick change in appearance or mood takes ponerse.

  2. Using ponerse for a job

    Incorrect:Se puso médico.
    Correct:Se hizo médico.

    A job you work toward takes hacerse.

  3. Using convertirse with an adjective

    Incorrect:Se convirtió famoso.
    Correct:Se hizo famoso.

    Convertirse en needs a noun: se convirtió en una estrella. With an adjective, use another verb.

  4. Leaving out a in llegar a ser

    Incorrect:Llegó ser presidente.
    Correct:Llegó a ser presidente.

    It's always llegar a ser.

  5. Using ponerse where one verb exists

    Sounds unnatural:Me puse enojado.
    Correct:Me enojé.

    When there's a reflexive verb for the change, it usually sounds more natural.

Questions about “become”

How do you say "to become" in Spanish?

It depends on the kind of change. Ponerse for quick changes in mood or appearance (se puso rojo), volverse for changes in character (se volvió loco), hacerse for changes you work toward (se hizo médico), and convertirse en for turning into something else (se convirtió en hielo).

What is the difference between ponerse and volverse?

Ponerse is for temporary changes in mood, health, or appearance: Se puso nervioso. Volverse is for deeper, lasting changes in who someone is: Se volvió muy egoísta.

How do you say "to become a doctor" in Spanish?

Hacerse médico, since it takes effort: Mi hermana se hizo médica. For something reached after a long time, llegar a ser also works: Llegó a ser directora.

What does convertirse en mean?

"To turn into" or "to become," for a complete transformation, and always followed by a noun: El agua se convirtió en hielo, Se convirtió en una estrella.

How do you say "to get angry" in Spanish?

Usually with a single reflexive verb: enojarse or enfadarse. Many "get" changes work this way: cansarse (get tired), aburrirse (get bored), casarse (get married).

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