hecho
Wordform Details
Translation: donemade
Part of Speech: verb
Inflection Type:
pastparticiplemasculinesingularIs Dictionary Form: No
Dictionary Form Details
Lemma Details
Translation: to do; to make; to create; to perform; to cause
Part of Speech: verb
Etymology: Hacer comes from Latin 'facere' (to make, to do), which is also the source of English words like 'fact', 'factory', 'facile', and 'facilitate'. The Latin 'f' often transformed to 'h' in Spanish (compare Latin 'filius' to Spanish 'hijo'), which explains the initial 'h' in 'hacer'. This pattern of f→h is a distinctive feature of Spanish's evolution from Latin.
Commonality: 95%
Guessability: 40%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think of 'hacer' as 'having something done' - both start with 'h' and involve completing actions.
- Connect it to 'factory' in English (from the same Latin root 'facere') - a place where things are made or done.
- The 'h' in Spanish is silent, so 'hacer' sounds like 'ah-SAIR', which can remind you of 'assemble' or 'assert' - actions of doing or making.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
Hacer is one of the most versatile and frequently used verbs in Spanish. It appears in countless expressions and idioms. It's used to talk about weather (hace calor - it's hot), time (hace dos años - two years ago), and in many fixed expressions. Understanding the various uses of 'hacer' is essential for fluency in Spanish.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'hacer' means 'to do/make', 'decir' means 'to say/tell'. Both are irregular verbs with similar importance in Spanish, but they refer to different types of actions.
Confused word:
Voy a decir la verdad.
I'm going to tell the truth.
Notes: Both verbs are highly irregular and essential to learn for basic communication.
Mnemonic: Hacer is for actions (doing/making), decir is for words (saying/telling).
Explanation: 'Hacer' (to do/make) is about action and creation, while 'tener' (to have) is about possession or experiencing states.
Confused word:
Tengo hambre.
I am hungry (literally: I have hunger).
Notes: In Spanish, many states that would use 'to be' in English (I am hungry) use 'tener' instead (I have hunger).
Mnemonic: Hacer creates or performs; tener possesses or experiences.