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"Montar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to ride", and "armar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to assemble". Learn more about the difference between "montar" and "armar" below.
montar(
mohn
-
tahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to ride
Mabel aprendió a montar el caballo de su abuelo cuando tenía apenas cuatro años.Mabel learned to ride her grandfather's horse when she was just four years old.
2. (to get on)
a. to mount
¿Puedes agarrar la cabeza de la yegua para que la pueda montar?Can you hold the mare's head so that I can mount her?
a. to put together
Amy y John tardaron cuatro horas en montar su cama nueva.It took Amy and John four hours to put together their new bed.
b. to assemble
Para montar esta bicicleta, se necesita una llave ajustable.To assemble this bicycle, an adjustable wrench is needed.
c. to put up
No vamos a poder montar este librero de roble sin ayuda.We aren't going to be able to put up this oak bookcase without help.
a. to set up
Mi cuñada montó una tienda de productos orgánicos en el centro.My sister-in-law set up an organic goods store downtown.
6. (to raise)
7. (film)
8. (sewing)
a. to cast on
Mi abuela me enseñó a montar puntos con dos agujas.My grandmother showed me how to cast on stitches with two needles.
10. (culinary)
a. to cock
El ladrón montó su pistola y gritó, "¡Nunca me atraparán con vida!"The robber cocked his pistol and shouted, "You'll never take me alive!"
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
13. (to climb on)
a. to come to
El total de las reparaciones a su casa monta a 100,000 dólares.The total of the repairs to your house comes to 100,000 dollars.
a. to cover part of
La etiqueta del precio monta sobre la cubierta del libro.The price tag covers part of the cover of the book.
montarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
17. (to get up on)
b. to get onto
¿De verdad se van a montar a ese toro enorme?Are you really going to get onto that giant bull?
d. to get into (a vehicle)
Angie se montó a la camioneta y se fue rumbo al campo.Angie got into the truck and drove toward the countryside.
18. (colloquial) (to manage) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
a. to handle
Yo sé que trabajar 12 horas seguidas es duro, pero me lo puedo montar.I know that working 12 hours straight is tough, but I can handle it.
armar(
ahr
-
mahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to assemble
Armaremos el escritorio en cuanto tu padre llegue a casa.We'll assemble the desk once your father gets home.
b. to put together
Necesitamos pegamento para armar la maqueta del edificio.We need glue to put the model of the building together.
c. to put up
Los soldados tienen que armar la tienda cuanto antes.The soldiers need to put up the tent as soon as possible.
e. to piece together (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
Llevo una semana intentando armar este puzzle.I've been trying to piece together this puzzle for a week.
f. to roll (a cigar or cigarette) (Colombia) (River Plate)
Regionalism used in Colombia
Armó un cigarro y entonces lo encendió.She rolled a cigarette, and then she lit it.
a. to arm
El gobierno está acusado de armar a terroristas.The government is accused of arming terrorists.
b. to supply with arms
Nuestra organización está dispuesta a armar a la milicia si hay revolución.Our organization is willing to supply the militia with arms if there is a revolution.
3. (military)
a. to load
El soldado armó la pistola con las pocas balas que pudo encontrar.The soldier armed the pistol with the few bullets he was able to find.
4. (nautical)
a. to fit out
Armaremos el barco con velas nuevas cuando lleguemos a un puerto.We'll fit the ship out with new sails when we arrive at a port.
5. (colloquial) (to initiate conflict)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Armó un follón cuando compré una marca diferente de cereal.She kicked up a real fuss when I bought a different brand of cereal.
El comportamiento del cantante en el restaurante ha armado un gran escándalo.The behavior of the singer in the restaurant has caused a big scandal.
6. (sewing)
a. to stiffen
El diseñador decidió armar la chaqueta para darle más estructura.The designer decided to stiffen the jacket to give it more structure.
armarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to arm oneself
Se armó del primer cuchillo que encontró en la cocina.She armed herself with the first knife she found in the kitchen.
a. to make a packet (colloquial) (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
El policía se armó con la mordida que recibió.The policeman made a packet from the bribe that he received.
a. to arm oneself
Se armó de un martillo y unos clavos, y subió al tejado.He armed himself with a hammer and nails and climbed up onto the roof.
10. (colloquial) (to happen)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Se armó una discusión sobre quién iba a tomar la última galleta.An argument broke out over who was going to get the last cookie.
Ni te imaginas el lío que se armó cuando despidieron a nuestro jefe.You can't even imagine the chaos that went down when our boss was fired.
