To say “to share” in Spanish, you’ll typically use the verb compartir. This works if you want to express that something is being owned or used jointly or that people are taking turns.
If you’re sharing, or communicating, news with someone, the right choice would be the verb contar (to tell). Here are a few examples of how the options are used in everyday conversations:
- No comparto tu opinión. = I don’t share your opinion.
- Podríamos compartir una habitación. = We could share a room.
- Queríamos contarles las noticias. = We wanted to share some news with you.
The differences between the translations of English words into Spanish will come naturally with time and when you learn them within the contexts of daily life.
Table of Contents
Compartir
This -IR verb is the primary way to say “share” in Spanish. You might share an appetizer, especially if you’re out for “tapas” with friends. Or, you might share a hotel room or an apartment.
If you’re on an online call like with one of Rosetta Stone’s expert tutors or live lessons, someone may compartir la pantalla (share the screen).
When you speak to children about sharing food with their sister in Spanish or telling brothers to take turns using their toys, you want to use compartir.
- Estos hermanos comparten un dormitorio. = These brothers share a bedroom.
- Mi hermano es muy amable. Comparte su helado conmigo. = My brother is very kind. He shares his ice cream with me.
- Me gusta ser hija única porque no tengo que compartir mis juguetes con nadie. = I like being an only child because I don’t have to share my toys with anyone.
Compartir conjugation
To say who is doing the sharing in Spanish, use the correct verb ending to match the subject. Memorizing the endings for regular -IR verbs like compartir is worthwhile because other verbs will follow this pattern, such as abrir (to open) and escribir (to write).
compartir – to share
| Spanish Present Tense | English Meaning |
| yo comparto | I share |
| tú compartes | you share (informal singular) |
| él/ella comparte | he/she shares |
| usted comparte | you share (formal singular) |
| nosotros compartimos | we share |
| vosotros compartís | you share (informal plural – Spain) |
| ellos/ellas comparten | they share |
| ustedes comparten | you share (plural) |
Contar
If what you mean is to share a story, the verb contar is the best choice. In translating contar to English, the word choice is yours. You might use “share” as in “share a story with someone,” or you might choose the word “tell.” The verb contar can also mean “to count,” but you’ll know which translation by the context of the sentence.
- Tengo algo que contarte. = I have something to share with you.
- ¡Cuéntame lo que pasó! = Tell me what happened!
- Nicolás nos va a contar todo. = Nicolás is going to share everything with us./Nicolás is going to tell us everything.
- Puedo contar a diez en italiano. = I can count to ten in Italian.
Listening to others tell stories about their day or even chisme (gossip) will help catapult you from basics to a wider array of vocabulary. You’ll often use the Spanish preterite tense to share stories or recount events with a Spanish-speaking friend.
Other translations of ‘share’ in Spanish
Translation between languages is an art. Once you know basic Spanish words, you can always build nuance and sophistication by choosing similar phrases and expressions.
Tener en común
The expression tener algo en común (to have something in common) could be translated as “to share” in English.
- Algo que tenemos en común es que somos creativos. = Something we share is that we are creative.
- Tenemos en común un amor por la comida. = We share a love of food.
Repartir
Sometimes the verb repartir is translated as “to share out,” “to distribute” or “to divide up.” The difference is subtle.
Colaborar
To refer to “sharing the workload,” you can substitute the verb colaborar (to collaborate) on a project or creative work.
Idiomatic expressions with ‘share’
As you improve your Spanish with idiomatic expressions that won’t translate word-for-word, you’re sure to discover even more translations for simple verbs like “share” in Spanish.
Specific disciplines such as economics will be a source of new vocabulary. If you’re interested in trading shares of a company on the Madrid stock exchange for example, you may need even more specific terms for “share.”
| Spanish | English |
| la buena parte/la gran parte | your fair share (a large or excessive amount) |
| el mejor pedazo | the lion’s share |
| la multipropiedad/tiempo compartido | timeshare |
| pagar su parte | to pay your share |
| una parte | a share/a part |
| una parte/una porción/una cuota equitativa | fair share (an equitable or fair amount) |
| una participación/acción | share in a company |
| la participación en el mercado | market share |
| participar en algo | to share in something |
| una porción | share/portion |
| el precio de las acciones | share/stock price |
| reparto de beneficios | revenue share |
| el trabajo a tiempo parcial | job-share |
| vehículo/viaje compartido | ride share |
Key takeaways about ‘share’ in Spanish
If you want to know how to say “share” in Spanish, remember the word “share” can either be a verb or a noun. First decide what you want to say and then choose the correct word in Spanish.
- “To share” a toy, a taxi, a sandwich, or a bedroom would all be compartir.
- “To share” a thought or a story verbally would be contar.
- The nouns parte (part) or porción (portion) are common synonyms. When someone receives an individual part or portion of a whole, it may be referred to as “a share.”
- There are lots of specific nouns for “share” in business and economy matters.
0 Commentaires