Your cart is currently empty!
Expressions, Idioms, and Proverbs with the Verb Hacer
Written by
in
Expressions, Idioms, and Proverbs with the Verb โHacerโ
When learning Spanish, understanding the verb hacer (to do or to make) is essential due to its versatile use in daily conversation. Beyond its literal meanings, hacer is also deeply ingrained in various idiomatic expressions and proverbs, which add richness and nuance to the language. Below, we’ll explore common expressions with hacer, their meanings, example sentences, and usage considerations.
1. Basic Uses of Hacer
Hacer can mean “to do” or “to make,” depending on the context. It conjugates irregularly, so itโs crucial to memorize its forms.
Present tense conjugation:
- Yo hago
- Tรบ haces
- รl/Ella/Usted hace
- Nosotros/Nosotras hacemos
- Vosotros/Vosotras hacรฉis
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes hacen
Examples:
- Yo hago la cena. (I make dinner.)
- ยฟQuรฉ haces? (What are you doing?)
2. Common Expressions with Hacer
These are widely used in everyday life and add a natural touch to your Spanish.
Hacer falta โ To need/lack
- Meaning: Indicates something is missing or needed.
- Example: Nos hace falta mรกs tiempo para terminar.
(We need more time to finish.)
Hacer caso (de/a) โ To pay attention (to)
- Meaning: To heed or follow advice/instructions.
- Example: No hizo caso de mis advertencias.
(He didnโt pay attention to my warnings.)
Hacer daรฑo โ To harm/hurt
- Meaning: Refers to causing physical or emotional harm.
- Example: Comer tantos dulces te harรก daรฑo.
(Eating so many sweets will harm you.)
Hacer cola โ To stand in line
- Meaning: To queue up.
- Example: Tuvimos que hacer cola durante dos horas.
(We had to stand in line for two hours.)
Hacer el papel de โ To play the role of
- Meaning: Used in the context of acting or pretending.
- Example: En la obra, ella hace el papel de la reina.
(In the play, she plays the role of the queen.)
Hacer las paces โ To make peace
- Meaning: To reconcile after a conflict.
- Example: Decidieron hacer las paces despuรฉs de la discusiรณn.
(They decided to make peace after the argument.)
Hacer ejercicio โ To exercise
- Meaning: Refers to physical activity.
- Example: Hago ejercicio todos los dรญas para mantenerme en forma.
(I exercise every day to stay in shape.)
Hacer buen/mal tiempo โ To have good/bad weather
- Meaning: Describes the weather conditions.
- Example: Hoy hace buen tiempo; vamos a la playa.
(The weather is nice today; letโs go to the beach.)
Hacer una pregunta โ To ask a question
- Meaning: Standard way of expressing โto ask.โ
- Example: ยฟPuedo hacerte una pregunta?
(Can I ask you a question?)
Hacer la vista gorda โ To turn a blind eye
- Meaning: To ignore something intentionally.
- Example: El profesor hizo la vista gorda ante el ruido en clase.
(The teacher turned a blind eye to the noise in class.)
Hacer de las suyas โ To be up to oneโs usual antics
- Meaning: Indicates mischief or habitual behavior.
- Example: Juan estรก haciendo de las suyas otra vez.
(Juan is up to his usual antics again.)
Hacer hincapiรฉ en โ To emphasize
- Meaning: To stress or underline importance.
- Example: Debemos hacer hincapiรฉ en la calidad del proyecto.
(We must emphasize the quality of the project.)
3. Proverbs with Hacer
These proverbs reflect cultural wisdom and are used in both formal and informal contexts.
El que algo quiere, algo le cuesta.
(If you want something, it will cost you something.)
- Highlights the effort required to achieve goals.
Hacerse el tonto.
(To play dumb.)
- Used to describe someone pretending not to understand.
Hacer de tripas corazรณn.
(To make a heart out of guts.)
- Means to muster courage in difficult times.
Hacer la cama y acostarse en ella.
(Make the bed and lie in it.)
- Suggests accepting the consequences of oneโs actions.
4. Things to Keep in Mind
Gender and Number Agreement
While hacer itself doesnโt change based on gender or number, the articles or adjectives accompanying nouns do. For instance:
- Hice una pregunta interesante. (I asked an interesting question.)
- Hicimos muchas tareas complicadas. (We did many complicated tasks.)
Tense Considerations
The meaning of expressions with hacer can vary depending on the tense:
- Present: ยฟQuรฉ haces? (What are you doing?)
- Preterite: Hice una llamada. (I made a call.)
- Future: Harรฉ lo necesario. (I will do what is necessary.)
Reflexive Use
Some expressions use the reflexive form:
- Hacerse tarde โ (To become late)
- Example: Se estรก haciendo tarde; vรกmonos.
(Itโs getting late; letโs go.)
- Example: Se estรก haciendo tarde; vรกmonos.
5. Practice Tips
- Context is key: Pay attention to the situation to determine the correct meaning of hacer.
- Memorize expressions: Learn idioms in chunks, as they often donโt translate literally.
- Immerse yourself: Use these expressions in conversation to solidify their meanings.
By mastering hacer and its many uses, youโll enrich your Spanish vocabulary and sound more fluent in everyday conversations. Happy learning!
If you found this guide helpful, Iโd love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments below or connect with me on social media. For more tips, resources, and inspiration, visit my blog at mylanguageclasses.in. Follow on Instagram and subscribe on YouTube
๐ Continue Learning Spanish
Vikas Kumar is a dedicated language educator, content creator, and digital entrepreneur, best known as the co-founder of My Language Classes and The Curious Mind. With a strong focus on helping learners achieve fluency in English, Spanish, and Japanese, he has guided audiences worldwide through a diverse range of resources, including in-depth blog articles, engaging YouTube tutorials, and comprehensive Books.
Through My Language Classes, Vikas has built a thriving multilingual learning platform that serves students, travelers, and professionals eager to master communication skills for personal, academic, and professional success. His expertise extends to exam preparation for internationally recognized certifications such as JLPT, DELE, IELTS, and TOEFL, enabling learners to achieve tangible, career-enhancing results.
As the founder of The Curious Mind, he also explores broader areas of knowledge, including self-help, motivation, modern learning strategies, and thought-provoking insights on life and personal growth. His work blends practical teaching methods with a deep understanding of learner psychology, making complex concepts accessible and engaging.
Driven by a mission to make high-quality education accessible to all, Vikas continues to expand his reach across multiple platforms, including YouTube, blogs, eBooks, and social media communities, inspiring thousands to learn, grow, and embrace lifelong learning.
Leave a Reply