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"Lucir" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "to shine", and "parecer" is a copular verb which is often translated as "to seem". Learn more about the difference between "lucir" and "parecer" below.
lucir(
loo
-
seer
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to shine
Las estrellas lucen más en el bosque que en la ciudad.The stars shine more in the woods than in the city.
2. (to appear) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to look good
Llegó al baile luciendo en su nuevo vestido.She arrived at the dance looking good in her new dress.
a. to show
Tengo diez horas trabajando en este proyecto. - ¿De verdad? Pues, no luce.I've been working on this project for ten hours. - Really? It doesn't show.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
6. (to display)
lucirse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to make a fool of oneself
De verdad que te luciste ayer en la fiesta.You really made a fool of yourself yesterday at the party.
parecer(
pah
-
reh
-
sehr
)A copular verb links the subject of a clause to the predicate (e.g., My brother is tall).
a. to look like
Mi perro parece un zorro con su cola tan larga.My dog looks like a fox with his long tail.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
An impersonal verb is a verb with no apparent subject (e.g., Llueve en España.).
a. to look like
Parece que va a nevar. - No creo; no está lo suficientemente frío.It looks like it's going to snow. - I don't think so; it's not cold enough.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Me parece que el ministro debería dimitir.I think the minister should resign.
¿Qué te pareció la serie sobre la familia real? - Me pareció una tontería.What did you think of the series about the royal family? - I thought it was nonsense.
parecerse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to look like
Te pareces mucho a tu papá cuando tenía tu edad.You look a lot like your father when he was your age.
b. to be like
Se parece a un vaquero con esas botas y esa actitud.He's like a cowboy with those boots and that attitude.
A reciprocal verb is a verb that indicates that two or more subjects perform an action on each other (e.g., Ellos se abrazan.).
