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"Colocar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to place", and "arreglar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to fix". Learn more about the difference between "colocar" and "arreglar" below.
colocar(
koh
-
loh
-
kahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to arrange)
d. to put up
Cuando mi perro se perdió coloqué carteles en todas partes.When my dog got lost, I put up signs everywhere.
e. to hang
¿Por qué no colocamos el cuadro de Van Gogh en la pared del comedor?Why don't we hang the Van Gogh painting on the dining room wall?
f. to position
Claudia colocó todos sus muñecos sobre la cama.Claudia positioned all her dolls on the bed.
2. (finance)
a. to place
Mark decidió colocar una fuerte suma de dinero en bienes raíces.Mark decided to place a large amount of money in real estate.
b. to invest
Si su perfil de riesgo es conservador, coloque su dinero en un fondo mutuo de renta fija.If your risk profile is conservative, invest your money in a fixed-income mutual fund.
a. to place
¿Cómo hizo Marta para colocar a su sobrino en la empresa de Luis?How did Marta manage to place her nephew at Luis's company?
b. to find a job for
Guillermo colocó a su hijo en el gobierno.Guillermo found a job for his son in the government.
c. to get a job for
Alonso colocó a su primo como chofer de Uber.Alonso got a job for his cousin as an Uber driver.
4. (old-fashioned) (to find a spouse for)
A word or phrase that is seldom used in contemporary language and is recognized as being from another decade, (e.g., cat, groovy).
a. to marry off
Mi vecino ya colocó a su hija mayor pero le quedan tres más.My neighbor already married off his eldest daughter, but he's got three more left.
a. to palm off on (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Mis compañeros de equipo querían colocarme la responsabilidad de lo que salió mal.My teammates wanted to palm off the responsibility of what went wrong on me.
6. (commerce)
a. to place
La empresa espera colocar este producto en el mercado internacional el año entrante.The company is hoping to place this product on the international market next year.
7. (colloquial) (to intoxicate)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to get high (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Esta pastilla te colocará, amigo.This pill will get you high, buddy.
colocarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to get a job
Fernando está tratando de colocarse como médico en el hospital general.Fernando is trying to get a job as a doctor at the general hospital.
10. (to apply)
a. to put on
¿Me enseñas a colocarme las pestañas postizas?Can you show me how to put on fake eyelashes?
11. (colloquial) (to get drunk)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to get plastered (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Todos nos colocamos en la fiesta de Alicia.All of us got plastered at Alicia's party.
12. (colloquial) (to get stoned)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to get high (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Amy y Tina se están comportando raro. - No me extraña. Se colocaron antes de la clase.Amy and Tina are acting weird. - That doesn't surprise me. They got high before class.
arreglar(
ah
-
rreh
-
glahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to restore)
a. to arrange
Lo hemos arreglado todo para poder irnos una semana de vacaciones.We have arranged everything so we can go on vacation for a week.
3. (to clean)
a. to tidy
Arregla la cocina cuando termines de cocinar.Tidy the kitchen once you've finished cooking.
b. to tidy up
Estoy enseñando a mis hijos a arreglar su cuarto.I am teaching my children to tidy up their room.
4. (to solve)
a. to settle
La madre arregló la discusión regañando a ambos niños.The mother settled the discussion by scolding both kids.
b. to sort out
Quiero arreglar este asunto antes del almuerzo.I want this matter sorted out before lunch.
5. (to agree)
a. to arrange
Seguro que él puede arreglarte un buen precio.I'm sure he can arrange a good price for you.
6. (music)
a. to arrange
Vamos a arreglar esta melodía para varias voces.We will arrange this melody for multiple voices.
arreglarse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
b. to make up (couple)
Mi hermano se arregló con su novia después de una pelea.My brother made up with his girlfriend after a fight.
a. to manage
No ganamos mucho dinero, pero nos arreglamos.We do not earn a lot of money, but we manage.
