Why Convertir Is the Verb of Transformation
Convertir means to turn something into something else, and its reflexive form convertirse en is the most common way to say become. It has a stem change (convierto, conviertes, convierte, convertimos, convierten) and it always takes en.
Learn the six chunks below and you will describe change, big and small, without translating "become" word by word.
Pattern 1: Convertirse en… — "To become…"
Use en plus a noun for the new state or profession. It describes a real change of status, not a temporary mood. For ser, see Ser vs. Estar Chunks.
- Se convirtió en médico a los treinta años. — He became a doctor at thirty.
- Se convirtió en un problema. — It became a problem.
- Quiero convertirme en escritor. — I want to become a writer.
Chunk to learn:
Convertirse en + [profesión / problema / persona]
Pattern 2: Convertir A en B — "To turn A into B"
Without se, someone or something changes another thing. It covers rooms, money and ideas. For changing and exchanging, see [Cambiar] Chunks.
- Convirtió el garaje en una oficina. — He turned the garage into an office.
- ¿Puedes convertir euros en dólares? — Can you convert euros into dollars?
- Convirtieron el problema en una oportunidad. — They turned the problem into an opportunity.
Chunk to learn:
Convertir + [A] + en + [B]
Pattern 3: Convertirse en realidad — "To come true"
The chunk for dreams and plans that finally happen. It is the natural partner of cumplir un sueño; see [Cumplir] Chunks.
- Mi sueño se convirtió en realidad. — My dream came true.
- Por fin se convirtió en realidad el proyecto. — The project finally became a reality.
- Lo que parecía imposible se convirtió en realidad. — What seemed impossible came true.
Chunk to learn:
Convertirse en realidad / Hacerse realidad
Pattern 4: Convertirse en un hábito — "To become a habit"
Use it for things you started doing and now do all the time. For repeating an action, see [Volver A] Chunks.
- Se convirtió en un hábito. — It became a habit.
- Esto se está convirtiendo en una costumbre. — This is turning into a habit.
- El café de la mañana se convirtió en rutina. — The morning coffee became a routine.
Chunk to learn:
Convertirse en un hábito / una costumbre / una rutina
Pattern 5: Convertirse en una pesadilla — "To turn into a nightmare"
What happens when a good plan goes wrong. The same pattern works for un circo (a circus) and un caos (chaos). For how things end, see [Terminar] Chunks.
- El viaje se convirtió en una pesadilla. — The trip turned into a nightmare.
- La reunión se convirtió en un circo. — The meeting turned into a circus.
- La fiesta se convirtió en un caos. — The party turned into chaos.
Chunk to learn:
Convertirse en + [una pesadilla / un circo / un caos]
Pattern 6: ¿En qué te has convertido? — "What have you become?"
An emotional chunk for talking about how someone has changed, for better or worse. It works for a sad question and for a warm compliment. For seeming and appearing, see [Parecer] Chunks.
- ¿En qué te has convertido? — What have you become?
- Te has convertido en una gran cocinera. — You've become a great cook.
- Te has convertido en tu padre. — You've become your father.
Chunk to learn:
¿En qué te has convertido? / Te has convertido en…
Convertirse en vs. Ponerse vs. Hacerse
Convertirse en plus a noun is a big transformation. Ponerse plus an adjective is a temporary change, like ponerse nervioso; see [Poner] Chunks. Hacerse says you become something through effort or time: hacerse rico; see [Hacer] Chunks. When the change is big and the result is a noun, convertirse en is the safe choice.
Start with convertirse en… and se convirtió en realidad. You will use both the first time you talk about dreams or change.
This post is part of the Spanish Chunk Series — a growing collection of chunk patterns for natural Spanish.