vs
QUICK ANSWER
"Fijarse" is a pronominal verb which is often translated as "to pay attention", and "notar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to notice". Learn more about the difference between "fijarse" and "notar" below.
fijarse(
fee
-
hahr
-
seh
)A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to pay attention
Fíjate bien en todo lo que dice y luego me lo cuentas.Pay close attention to everything he says and then tell me afterwards.
a. to notice
No me había fijado en el escalón y casi me caigo.I hadn't noticed the step and almost fell.
fijar
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
3. (to put)
a. to fix
Tienes que fijar la lámpara al techo con los tornillos.You have to fix the lamp to the ceiling using the screws.
b. to establish
Ha fijado su residencia en Londres por cuestiones de trabajo.He has established his residence in London because of his job.
c. to fix
Antes de decidirnos por una estrategia, debemos fijar nuestros objetivos.We need to fix our objectives before deciding on any strategy.
notar(
noh
-
tahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to notice
Noté que saliste muy temprano de tu casa hoy.I noticed that you left home very early today.
a. to feel
¿No notas nada en el brazo? Tienes un rasguño grande.Don't you feel anything on your arm? You have a big scratch.
a. to mark
Después de platicar con el abogado, revisé el documento y noté las páginas importantes.After talking with the lawyer, I reviewed the document and marked the important pages.
b. to indicate
Permíteme notar cuál es la sección que debes estudiar.Allow me to indicate which section you should study.
An impersonal verb is a verb with no apparent subject (e.g., Llueve en España.).
a. to be noticeable
¿Se nota que mis patillas están disparejas? - No, para nada.Is it noticeable that my sideburns are uneven? - No, not at all.
notarse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
a. to feel
Me noto más alerta en la mañana que por la noche.I feel more alert in the morning than at night.
