vs
QUICK ANSWER
"Ubicar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to locate", and "poner" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to put". Learn more about the difference between "ubicar" and "poner" below.
ubicar(
oo
-
bee
-
kahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to situate) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to locate
Los dueños decidieron ubicar el hotel cerca del aeropuerto.The owners decided to locate the hotel near the airport.
b. to put
Quiero ubicar la mesa junto a la ventana para tener una linda vista del jardín.I want to put the table next to the window to have a nice view of the garden.
c. to place
Los músicos ubicaron los altavoces muy cerca del escenario.The musicians placed the speakers very near the stage.
2. (to find) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to locate
El empleado de la tienda me ayudó a ubicar la sección de los productos lácteos.The store clerk helped me locate the dairy section.
c. to get hold of (person)
¿Ya pudiste ubicar a Juan Carlos?Were you able to get hold of Juan Carlos?
a. to place
¿Raúl? No lo ubico. - ¡Lo acabas de conocer!Raul? I can't place him. - You just met him!
ubicarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
4. (to situate)
a. to be located
El pozo se ubica a un kilómetro al oeste.The well is located one kilometer to the west.
b. to be situated
El palacio de justicia se ubica entre la catedral y el hotel.The court house is situated between the cathedral and the hotel.
c. to stand
Carla se ubicó frente al grupo para hablarles de su plan de acción.Carla stood in front of the group to tell them about his plan of action.
d. to sit
Nos ubicamos en las primeras filas para poder ver mejor.We sat near the front so we could have a better view.
a. to find one's way around
Es fácil ubicarse en la ciudad de Salt Lake, debido a su sistema de numeración de calles.It's easy to find your way around in Salt Lake City, due to its street numbering system.
b. to get one's bearings
El explorador salió del túnel para ubicarse.The explorer came out of the tunnel to get his bearings.
a. to get a job
Gracias a los seis meses que hizo de prácticas, el estudiante consiguió ubicarse en la compañía.Thanks to a six-month internship, the student managed to get a job in the company.
poner(
poh
-
nehr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to place)
2. (figurative) (to cause to be)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
a. to put
Su renuncia me pone en una situación difícil.His resignation puts me in a difficult position.
3. (clothing)
a. to put on
Después de bañar a la bebé, hay que ponerle ropa limpia.After giving the baby a bath, you have to put some clean clothes on her.
4. (to install)
6. (to grade)
7. (to produce)
a. to put in
Podemos alquilar ese sitio si todos ponemos algo de dinero.We can rent the place if everybody puts in some cash.
9. (to connect)
10. (to name)
11. (to establish)
a. to open
Sandy y su esposo van a poner una panadería en la calle principal.Sandy and her husband are going to open a bakery on main street.
ponerse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
12. (to become)
a. to get
No te pongas impaciente conmigo cuando no has hecho nada para ayudar.Don't get impatient with me when you haven't done anything to help.
b. to be
No te pongas triste, cariño. Todo se arreglará.Don't be sad, sweetie. Everything will work out.
c. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Me pongo furiosa con pensarlo.It makes me mad to think about it.
El perro siempre se pone feliz al verte.The dog's always happy to see you.
a. to wear
Ya nunca me pongo ese vestido porque se ha quedado muy anticuado.I don't wear that dress anymore because it's very old-fashioned.
17. (to go down)
