Hacerse - to seem

Question

Is that true that hacerse can be used to mean 'to seem'?

Eg: El día se hacía muy larga. The day seemed very long.

Answer 1

Actually, it seems to follow from the use of hacer as an intransitive verb meaning "to play, to act as, to act as if" (or am I completely tonto??) And that racoon is really down because garden season is almost over and there will be no more blueberries, raspberries, squash, tomatoes or peaches to plunder in my garden!

Answer 2

Yeah, with hacerse meaning to pretend or be like, like you can pretend to be a clown etc... with hacerse, (to seem like)

El día se hacía muy largo

but I have heard

El día se hizo muy largo

and I couldn't tell you the difference between them.

would se hizo mean 'ended up being' rather than seemed, it actually way? just guessing - Kiwi-Girl, Aug 31, 2011

Mayhap, now that I think on it I'm not even sure the day can seem long, the way a person can pretend to be something with hacerse, guess I don't actually know on that one.... Where is the Lazmeister today anyway? - jeezzle, Aug 31, 2011

He already explained the use of hacerse when it means "to become". Here's another: http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/5246/the-verb-hacerse - 0074b507, Aug 31, 2011

When se is used with hacer....Why is 'se' in this sentence. - 0074b507, Sep 1, 2011

But not to pretend, or to seem, as far as I know. Dont' know where I picked that up. - jeezzle, Sep 1, 2011

Darn. It didn't post my 2nd link...Why is se in this sentence?...another explanation about hacerse by Lazarus - 0074b507, Sep 1, 2011

Answer 3

Hot off the presses, some of this thread seems to address your question:

http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/203801/i-was-wondering-how-to-translate-these-phrases-into-english.-can-you-help-me-please

And the first reply is from Gekko, no less! - pesta, Sep 1, 2011

Answer 4

Otros usos de hacer:

11 . tr. Dar un determinado aspecto. Esa camisa te hace más joven. U. t. c. intr.

22 . tr. Creer o suponer. ¿Tú aquí? Yo te hacía en Madrid.

27 . tr. fingir (? simular). Hace QUE estudia.

35 . impers. Expresa la cualidad o estado del tiempo atmosférico. Hace calor.

36 . impers. Haber transcurrido cierto tiempo. Hace tres días que no la veo.

43 . intr. aparentar (? manifestar, dar a entender lo que no es). Haz como que no lo has visto.

55 . prnl. Dicho de una cosa: Parecerle otra a alguien. El día se me hizo una eternidad.

Answer 5

Lector makes a good observation:

Hacerse el tonto: to play the fool

Hecerse el que no oye: to pretend one can't hear

Hacerse el loco: to pretend one does not notice that one is being addressed.

Answer 6

I just found this in our dictionary under 'hacer' 10. to cause to look o seem (dar aspecto a) este espejo te hace gordo -> that mirror makes you look o seem fat

Pero esta definición está bajo de hacer, no de hacerse, ¿no es así? - webdunce, Sep 1, 2011

El diccionario aquí sí da un ejemplo en el que hacerse se usa para significar "to seem" (número cinco bajo de "pronomial verb"). - webdunce, Sep 1, 2011

true but you can see that it's pronominal with 'te hace' :) - Kiwi-Girl, Sep 1, 2011

ja ja snap :) Thanx WD - Kiwi-Girl, Sep 1, 2011

Answer 7

And here's some more confirmation : Mirriam Webster Dictionary - to seem 4