Spanish · Everyday Verbs

"to use" in Spanish: usar

usar

Say it: oo-SAHR / OO-sohverb/u.ˈsaɾ/

To use in Spanish is usar. Say yo uso and ¿Puedo usar esto? Usar covers tools, apps, and objects—not only clothes.

At a café

¿Puedo usar el Wi‑Fi, por favor?
Can I use the Wi‑Fi, please?
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How to pronounce usar

Say it

oo-SAHR / OO-soh

/u.ˈsaɾ/

oo-SAHR. Yo uso is OO-soh. Same sound as wear: context picks the meaning of usar.

"to use" in Spanish: quick reference

SpanishEnglish
usarto use

Tools, apps, objects.

yo usoI use

Present first person.

¿puedo usar…?can I use…?

Polite request.

usar una appto use an app

Phone talk.

ustedes usanyou all use

Latin American plural you.

How to use usar in real life

  1. 1At a café

    ¿Puedo usar el Wi‑Fi, por favor?

    Can I use the Wi‑Fi, please?

    Usar after poder.

  2. 2Phone tip

    Yo uso esta app para el mapa.

    I use this app for the map.

    Uso from usar.

  3. 3Kitchen

    No uses ese cuchillo para el pan.

    Don't use that knife for the bread.

    Uses is negative tú of usar.

Mistakes English speakers make with usar

Incorrect: Yo usar la computadora.

Correct: Yo uso la computadora.

Conjugate usar: yo uso.

Incorrect: Usar yo el baño?

Correct: ¿Puedo usar el baño?

Ask with poder + usar.

Good to know

Usar is the default for tools and apps. ¿Puedo usar…? is polite with strangers. For wear, usar still works; meaning comes from the object named.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Borrowing a charger

  1. ChatPal

    ¿Usas este cargador ahora?

    Are you using this charger now?

  2. You

    No. Puedes usarlo si quieres.

    No. You can use it if you want.

  3. ChatPal

    Gracias. Solo lo uso cinco minutos.

    Thanks. I'll only use it five minutes.

  4. You

    Sin problema.

    No problem.

This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.

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"to use" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "to use" in Spanish

How do I say I use?

Yo uso…

Can I use this?

¿Puedo usar esto?

Usar for clothes too?

Yes. Context decides use vs wear.

How do you pronounce usar?

oo-SAHR, stress on SAHR.

Learn a word, then use it out loud

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  4. Step 4: Use it in real scenarios

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