“Parecer” and “parecerse” are both Spanish verbs used for comparisons. “Parecer” translates to “to seem” or “to look” and is used when describing someone’s general appearance or manner. “Parecerse”, the reflexive form of “parecer”, translates to “to resemble”, “to be similar”, or “to be alike” and is used when comparing someone to another specific person or thing. For example, “parecer” would be used in “you look Latino”, while “parecerse” would be used in “you look like Shakira”.

The Intricacies of “Parecer” and “Parecerse”

In a previous post, we dissected the difference between “parecer” and “parecerse”. The Spanish verb “parecer” translates to “to seem” or “to look” in English. This forms the heart of many comparisons in Spanish, where the focus is on apparent qualities or characteristics. On the other hand, “parecerse” is the reflexive form of “parecer”, and this is used when comparing someone to another specific person. Instead of “to seem”, “parecerse” means “to resemble”, “to be similar”, or “to be alike”.

Using “Parecerse” for Physical Comparisons

“Parecerse” is a go-to verb when you want to draw a comparison between two individuals’ appearances. For example, if you were conversing with someone who was accompanied by a friend, you might comment on their resemblance:

You look like your friend.
teh pah-reh-sehs ah too ah-mee-goh/ah.

And you can also reverse the comparison:

Your friend looks like you.
too ah-mee-goh/ah seh pah-reh-seh ah tee.

If you disagree with someone’s comparison, you can respond:

I don’t look like [him/her].
noh me pah-rehs-koh ah [EHl/eh-yah].

Distinguishing Comparisons: The Role of “a”

The use of “a” after “te pareces”, “se parece”, and “me parezco” is worth noting. The “a” connects the two people being compared to each other. This is a crucial element when using “parecerse” if you are comparing a specific person at the beginning of the phrase to another specific person at the end of the phrase.

Using “Parecerse” to Ask About Appearance

“Parecerse” can also be employed to inquire about someone’s appearance:

What does [he/she] look like?
¿A qué se parece? (literally: What does he/she resemble?)

“Parecer” vs “Parecerse”: General vs Specific Comparisons

When you want to describe someone’s general appearance or manner without comparing them to a specific person, “parecer” would be the appropriate verb:

You look Latino. (or seem Latino)

However, if you’re drawing a comparison to a specific individual, you’d use “parecerse”:

You look like Shakira.

“Parecerse” isn’t limited to comparisons between people. It can also be used to compare things:

Spanish and Italian are a lot alike.
El español y el italiano se parecen bastante.

In conclusion, when describing general attributes, “parecer” is the verb to use (e.g., “you look young”, “you seem drunk”). However, when highlighting the similarity between two specific individuals, “parecerse” is the correct choice (e.g., “you look like María”).

Related Posts

For more detailed discussions, check out the related posts: Parecer Vs Parecerse, Part 1: Parecer and Look Every Way, Part 2.

What is the difference between “Parecer” and “Parecerse” in Spanish?

“Parecer” and “parecerse” are both Spanish verbs used for comparisons. “Parecer” translates to “to seem” or “to look” and is used when describing someone’s general appearance or manner. “Parecerse”, the reflexive form of “parecer”, translates to “to resemble”, “to be similar”, or “to be alike” and is used when comparing someone to another specific person or thing. For example, “parecer” would be used in “you look Latino”, while “parecerse” would be used in “you look like Shakira”.

The Intricacies of “Parecer” and “Parecerse”

In a previous post, we dissected the difference between “parecer” and “parecerse”. The Spanish verb “parecer” translates to “to seem” or “to look” in English. This forms the heart of many comparisons in Spanish, where the focus is on apparent qualities or characteristics. On the other hand, “parecerse” is the reflexive form of “parecer”, and this is used when comparing someone to another specific person. Instead of “to seem”, “parecerse” means “to resemble”, “to be similar”, or “to be alike”.

Using “Parecerse” for Physical Comparisons

“Parecerse” is a go-to verb when you want to draw a comparison between two individuals’ appearances. For example, if you were conversing with someone who was accompanied by a friend, you might comment on their resemblance:

You look like your friend.
teh pah-reh-sehs ah too ah-mee-goh/ah.

And you can also reverse the comparison:

Your friend looks like you.
too ah-mee-goh/ah seh pah-reh-seh ah tee.

If you disagree with someone’s comparison, you can respond:

I don’t look like [him/her].
noh me pah-rehs-koh ah [EHl/eh-yah].

Distinguishing Comparisons: The Role of “a”

The use of “a” after “te pareces”, “se parece”, and “me parezco” is worth noting. The “a” connects the two people being compared to each other. This is a crucial element when using “parecerse” if you are comparing a specific person at the beginning of the phrase to another specific person at the end of the phrase.

Using “Parecerse” to Ask About Appearance

“Parecerse” can also be employed to inquire about someone’s appearance:

What does [he/she] look like?
¿A qué se parece? (literally: What does he/she resemble?)

“Parecer” vs “Parecerse”: General vs Specific Comparisons

When you want to describe someone’s general appearance or manner without comparing them to a specific person, “parecer” would be the appropriate verb:

You look Latino. (or seem Latino)

However, if you’re drawing a comparison to a specific individual, you’d use “parecerse”:

You look like Shakira.

“Parecerse” isn’t limited to comparisons between people. It can also be used to compare things:

Spanish and Italian are a lot alike.
El español y el italiano se parecen bastante.

In conclusion, when describing general attributes, “parecer” is the verb to use (e.g., “you look young”, “you seem drunk”). However, when highlighting the similarity between two specific individuals, “parecerse” is the correct choice (e.g., “you look like María”).

Related Posts

For more detailed discussions, check out the related posts: Parecer Vs Parecerse, Part 1: Parecer and Look Every Way, Part 2.

Lessons Learned

Reflecting on the insights from this article, we learned about the nuanced differences between “parecer” and “parecerse” in the Spanish language. These verbs, while appearing to be similar, have distinctive usage depending on the context of the conversation or the intent of the speaker.

There’s a clear dichotomy in the usage of these verbs when it comes to comparisons. The verb “parecer” is used when speaking about someone’s general appearance or characteristics without drawing a comparison to another person or thing. On the other hand, “parecerse” is used when making a specific similarity or resemblance to another person or thing.

Moreover, the addition of “a” to the verbs “te pareces”, “se parece”, and “me parezco” plays a critical role in connecting the two entities being compared. Understanding these slight differences is key to mastering the Spanish language and provides a good reminder that the nuances of language can significantly impact the meaning and context of conversations.

Overall, the article underscores the importance of not just learning words in a new language, but also understanding the context in which they’re used. As language learners, it’s crucial to not only memorize vocabulary but also to dive deeper into the linguistic intricacies to truly own the language.