Avisar y advertir

Question

What's common between these two words, and what's different? As per the dictionary it seems that both of them mean "to warn". Avisar also means "to let someone know, tell someone something" but I'm not sure if these extend to advertir as well. Are they interchangeable in their "to warn" meaning, do they have other close or overlapping meanings?

¡Gracias!

Answer 1

I can't speak to advertir, but avisar is one of the most common ways to say "let someone know" something.

¿Vas a ir a la fiesta? --- Are you going to the party? No estoy seguro, te aviso -- I'm not sure, I'll let you know.

Avísame a que ahora empieza la fiesta. Let me know what time the party starts

So true. - francobollo, Jul 4, 2013

Thank you both, you were quite helpful :) - Manity, Jul 5, 2013

Answer 2

Avisar could mean to warn, but also to notify, inform, advise or call.

Example: Pepe me avisó de la muerte de su padre anoche. In this case it means to notify or inform.

Advertir is used more frequently to mean to warn, but it could also mean to advise or tell, and even to realize.

Example: Mi madre me advirtió que no saliera con esa chica porque me rompería el corazón. Here it means to warn.

I hope this helps!

Can avisar be used instead of advertir in your second example, would it be odd or less common? - Manity, Jul 4, 2013

Not really. You need advertir to convey the meaning of warning. If you were to use avisar here it would sound more like she informed you, which is not the meaning being conveyed by advertir (to warn). - francobollo, Jul 4, 2013

"Advert" and "Advertir" thus true cognates but again false friends, no? - EugenioCosta, Jul 4, 2013