Spanish Conversation · Level 22
90 words
Spanish word
sustituir
Pronunciation
IPA/sustiˈtwiɾ/
Meaning
- verbreplace
Example
¿Puedes sustituir el azúcar por miel?
Can you replace the sugar with honey?
More examples
El mecánico tuvo que sustituir la llanta pinchada.
The mechanic had to replace the flat tire.
Core concept
A person or thing taking over someone else's role.
Common phrases
sustituir algo por otra cosa
replace something with something else
sustituir una pieza
replace a part
Similar words
reemplazar: A new object is put in the old item's place to perform the same role.
cambiar: One thing is exchanged for another as a general change.
Definition in Spanish
Cambiar una cosa por otra para que la segunda ejerza la función de la primera.
Word origin
From Latin substituere (sub- 'under' + statuere 'to place'), which passed into Spanish with the sense 'put in the place of' and thus 'replace'.
Usage tips
- When the object is a person include the personal 'a' (sustituir al profesor), and to say one person replaces another use 'sustituir X por Y'.
Other meanings
- switch outverb
- exchangeverb
- substituteverb
Related words
- sustituciónreplacementnoun
- sustitutosubstitutenoun
- sustitutivosubstitutiveadjective