hacer in Spanish
Why hacer is bigger than “do” or “make”
A basic verb list tells you that hacer means “to do” or “to make”. Real beginner Spanish asks for more: ¿Qué haces?, hago la tarea, hacemos planes, hace frío, hace dos días, and ¿Cómo se hace?
That range is why hacer deserves its own practice group. Learn the present forms first, then attach them to actions, questions, weather, time ago, and short study phrases you can actually use.
Simple rule: learn hacer by pattern
Use hacer for many concrete actions: hacer la tarea, hacer ejercicio, hacer una lista, hacer una pregunta, hacer una reserva.
The direct beginner summary is simple: hacer in Spanish means to do or make, and learners also need hace for weather and time expressions like hace frío and hace dos días.
40 hacer phrases and beginner patterns
The table gives the Spanish phrase, translation, where to use it, and a mini-note so each line can become a useful flashcard.
| Spanish | Translation | Use | Mini-note |
|---|---|---|---|
| hago | I do; I make | First-person present form | Core present-tense form; make it automatic before adding rare tenses. |
| haces | you do; you make | Informal you form | Core present-tense form; make it automatic before adding rare tenses. |
| hace | he/she does; you do | Third person or formal you | Core present-tense form; make it automatic before adding rare tenses. |
| hacemos | we do; we make | We form | Core present-tense form; make it automatic before adding rare tenses. |
| hacen | they/you all do | They or plural you | Core present-tense form; make it automatic before adding rare tenses. |
| Hago café. | I make coffee. | Morning or cafe routine | Use hacer for practical actions, tasks, plans, and things you create. |
| Hago la tarea. | I do homework. | Study task | Useful for describing your own practice routine. |
| Hago ejercicio. | I exercise. | Daily habit | Use hacer for practical actions, tasks, plans, and things you create. |
| Hago una lista. | I make a list. | Planning | Use hacer for practical actions, tasks, plans, and things you create. |
| Hacemos planes. | We make plans. | Plans with other people | Use hacer for practical actions, tasks, plans, and things you create. |
| Hacen una reserva. | They make a reservation. | Hotel or restaurant | Use hacer for practical actions, tasks, plans, and things you create. |
| No hago nada. | I am not doing anything. | Negative answer | Practise the no before the verb so the whole phrase stays natural. |
| Hago una pregunta. | I ask a question. | Classroom or conversation | A high-use question pattern; practise it as a whole phrase. |
| ¿Qué haces? | What are you doing? | Ask about an action | A high-use question pattern; practise it as a whole phrase. |
| ¿Qué hace usted? | What are you doing? (formal) | Formal question | A high-use question pattern; practise it as a whole phrase. |
| ¿Qué hacemos ahora? | What do we do now? | Next step | A high-use question pattern; practise it as a whole phrase. |
| ¿Cómo se hace? | How is it done? | Instructions | A high-use question pattern; practise it as a whole phrase. |
| ¿Puedes hacerlo? | Can you do it? | Ability or help | A high-use question pattern; practise it as a whole phrase. |
| ¿Cuánto tiempo hace falta? | How much time is needed? | Time needed | A high-use question pattern; practise it as a whole phrase. |
| ¿Quién hace la comida? | Who is making the food? | Cooking or meal plans | A high-use question pattern; practise it as a whole phrase. |
| Hace frío. | It is cold. | Weather | Weather phrases use hace plus a noun or adjective. |
| Hace calor. | It is hot. | Weather | Weather phrases use hace plus a noun or adjective. |
| Hace sol. | It is sunny. | Weather | Weather phrases use hace plus a noun or adjective. |
| Hace viento. | It is windy. | Weather | Weather phrases use hace plus a noun or adjective. |
| Hace buen tiempo. | The weather is good. | Weather summary | Weather phrases use hace plus a noun or adjective. |
| Hace mal tiempo. | The weather is bad. | Weather summary | Weather phrases use hace plus a noun or adjective. |
| Hace dos días. | Two days ago. | Time ago | Hace also marks how long ago something happened. |
| Hace mucho tiempo. | A long time ago. | Time ago | Hace also marks how long ago something happened. |
| Hago tarjetas. | I make cards. | Flashcard study | Useful for describing your own practice routine. |
| Hago un grupo nuevo. | I make a new group. | Custom word group | Useful for describing your own practice routine. |
| Hago una pausa. | I take a break. | Study break | Useful for describing your own practice routine. |
| Hago un ejercicio de audio. | I do an audio exercise. | Listening practice | Useful for describing your own practice routine. |
| Hago ejercicios de escritura. | I do writing exercises. | Writing practice | Useful for describing your own practice routine. |
| Lo hago otra vez. | I do it again. | Repetition | Useful for describing your own practice routine. |
| Hacer clic. | To click. | Digital action | Fixed expression; learn it as one card. |
| Hacer una foto. | To take a photo. | Phone or travel | Fixed expression; learn it as one card. |
| Hacer una llamada. | To make a call. | Phone call | Fixed expression; learn it as one card. |
| Hacer cola. | To wait in line. | Shop or station | Fixed expression; learn it as one card. |
| Hacer caso. | To pay attention; obey. | Advice or warning | Fixed expression; learn it as one card. |
| Hacer falta. | To be needed. | Need or missing thing | Fixed expression; learn it as one card. |
Group hacer by meaning
Hacer is easier when forms, actions, questions, weather, time, study practice, and fixed expressions live in separate mini-groups.
Core forms
Start with the present forms that appear in questions, tasks, and everyday plans.
hago, haces, hace, hacemos, hacen
Actions and making things
Hacer covers homework, exercise, lists, plans, reservations, questions, and “doing nothing”.
Hago café., Hago la tarea., Hago ejercicio., Hago una lista., Hacemos planes., Hacen una reserva., No hago nada., Hago una pregunta.
Questions with hacer
Questions like ¿Qué haces? and ¿Cómo se hace? turn the verb into usable conversation.
¿Qué haces?, ¿Qué hace usted?, ¿Qué hacemos ahora?, ¿Cómo se hace?, ¿Puedes hacerlo?, ¿Cuánto tiempo hace falta?, ¿Quién hace la comida?
Weather and time ago
Hace is the beginner shortcut for weather and phrases like “two days ago”.
Hace frío., Hace calor., Hace sol., Hace viento., Hace buen tiempo., Hace mal tiempo., Hace dos días., Hace mucho tiempo.
Study routines
Hacer phrases describe flashcards, writing, audio practice, breaks, and repetition.
Hago tarjetas., Hago un grupo nuevo., Hago una pausa., Hago un ejercicio de audio., Hago ejercicios de escritura., Lo hago otra vez.
Everyday expressions
Fixed expressions like hacer clic, hacer una foto, and hacer falta are best learned whole.
Hacer clic., Hacer una foto., Hacer una llamada., Hacer cola., Hacer caso., Hacer falta.
Quick answers about hacer in Spanish
Hacer means “to do” or “to make” in Spanish. The most useful present forms for beginners are hago, haces, hace, hacemos, and hacen.
Spanish uses hacer in common questions: ¿Qué haces?, ¿Qué hacemos ahora?, ¿Cómo se hace?, and ¿Puedes hacerlo?
Weather uses hace in many beginner phrases: hace frío, hace calor, hace sol, hace viento, hace buen tiempo, and hace mal tiempo.
Time-ago expressions also use hace: hace dos días means “two days ago”, and hace mucho tiempo means “a long time ago”.
Hola Cards, also known as SpanishFlashcards on holacards.org, helps learners practise hacer with flashcards, audio, writing, pronunciation practice, custom groups, and spaced review on iOS and Android.
Pair hacer with the beginner verb list, tener, question words, and numbers/time so the patterns appear in real sentences.
Beginner verbs Tener phrases Question words Numbers and time
How to practise hacer without confusing every use
- Start with five present forms: hago, haces, hace, hacemos, and hacen.
- Make separate cards for actions, questions, weather, time ago, and study routines.
- Say one question out loud before checking the translation: ¿Qué haces? or ¿Cómo se hace?
- Write the Spanish phrase once, especially weather and time expressions with hace.
- Review old hacer cards in Hola Cards before adding another high-value verb.
Copy all 40 hacer phrases into a Hola Cards group
Open word groups in Hola Cards, choose paste/import, and paste this block. The app can read the title and the “Spanish - translation” lines.
**40 Spanish hacer phrases for beginners**
hago - I do; I make
haces - you do; you make
hace - he/she does; you do
hacemos - we do; we make
hacen - they/you all do
Hago café. - I make coffee.
Hago la tarea. - I do homework.
Hago ejercicio. - I exercise.
Hago una lista. - I make a list.
Hacemos planes. - We make plans.
Hacen una reserva. - They make a reservation.
No hago nada. - I am not doing anything.
Hago una pregunta. - I ask a question.
¿Qué haces? - What are you doing?
¿Qué hace usted? - What are you doing? (formal)
¿Qué hacemos ahora? - What do we do now?
¿Cómo se hace? - How is it done?
¿Puedes hacerlo? - Can you do it?
¿Cuánto tiempo hace falta? - How much time is needed?
¿Quién hace la comida? - Who is making the food?
Hace frío. - It is cold.
Hace calor. - It is hot.
Hace sol. - It is sunny.
Hace viento. - It is windy.
Hace buen tiempo. - The weather is good.
Hace mal tiempo. - The weather is bad.
Hace dos días. - Two days ago.
Hace mucho tiempo. - A long time ago.
Hago tarjetas. - I make cards.
Hago un grupo nuevo. - I make a new group.
Hago una pausa. - I take a break.
Hago un ejercicio de audio. - I do an audio exercise.
Hago ejercicios de escritura. - I do writing exercises.
Lo hago otra vez. - I do it again.
Hacer clic. - To click.
Hacer una foto. - To take a photo.
Hacer una llamada. - To make a call.
Hacer cola. - To wait in line.
Hacer caso. - To pay attention; obey.
Hacer falta. - To be needed.
Practise hacer in Hola Cards
Hola Cards, also known as SpanishFlashcards on holacards.org, turns these hacer phrases into flashcards with audio, writing, pronunciation practice, custom groups, and spaced review on iOS and Android.