How to Use PARECER and PARECERSE

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Bienvenido/a to Master Spanish Weekly. Each week, we focus on something practical. It may be a verb, a structure, or a piece of everyday Spanish that you’ll actually use. For learners like you who want to develop true confidence.

This week’s focus is a super common verb: PARECER. You’ve probably heard and maybe even used it before, but this verb goes beyond its translation: “It seems.” Let’s break it down together.

🌤️ ¿Cómo está el clima hoy?

🌍 News In Spanish

• PRÉSTAMOS ESTUDIANTILES

  El Gobierno reanuda el cobro de los préstamos estudiantiles después de cinco años en mora

  Los latinos están entre los más afectados por una deuda que puede multiplicar los problemas económicos de toda una generación de estadounidenses

  ⛓️‍💥Source: El País

• EDUCACIÓN

  La Administración Trump dice que Harvard no recibirá nuevas subvenciones federales hasta que cumpla con sus demandas.

  El Gobierno acusa a la universidad de antisemitismo, discriminación racial, falta de rigor y no fomentar diversidad de opiniones. La escuela Ivy League asegura que no cederá a la presión.

  ⛓️‍💥Source: Noticias Telemundo

📘 This Week’s Lesson: The Verb ‘PARECER’

Let’s start with the basics. PARECER means to seem or to appear, but in Spanish, we use it in more ways than in English. It’s also used to ask for opinions and to politely give your own.

You’ll also notice that it behaves like the verb gustar, meaning the verb changes depending on what you're talking about, and you often use a pronoun like me, te, le, nos, les, os in front of it. You can learn more about these types of verbs AQUÍ.

Let’s look at some examples you’ll hear in real life. You can read and listen at the same time, which is great for training your ear and building fluency.

1. To describe how something or someone seems

Used to talk about impressions, descriptions, or how things appear. It’s often followed by an adjective or “que…”

Examples:

1. Parece que va a llover. → It seems like it’s going to rain.

2. Parece una buena idea. → It seems like a good idea.

3. Ella parece cansada. → She seems tired.

4. Tu amigo parece muy simpático. → Your friend seems really nice.

5. El examen parece difícil. → The exam seems hard.

Listen to the examples below👇🏼

2. To ask for or give an opinion (with indirect pronouns)

It is used just like the verb gustar.

1. ¿Qué te parece esta idea? → What do you think of this idea?

2. Me parece bien. → I think it’s fine.

3. ¿Te parece justo? → Does that seem fair to you?

4. Nos parece una buena oportunidad. → We think it’s a good opportunity.

5. ¿Qué les parece el plan? → What do you all think of the plan?

Listen to the examples below👇🏼

3. PARECERSE – To look like / resemble someone or something

This is the reflexive form. It’s used to compare people or things.

Structure: me / te / se / nos / os / se + parecer 

Examples:

1. Me parezco a mi madre. → I look like my mom.

2. Ellos se parecen mucho. → They look a lot alike.

3. ¿Te pareces a tu hermano? → Do you look like your brother?

4. Nos parecemos en muchas cosas. → We’re similar in many ways.

5. Esta canción se parece a la anterior. → This song is similar to the last one.

Listen to the examples below👇🏼

🧩 Mini Quiz: ¿Sabes usar bien PARECER y PARECERSE?

Let’s see how well you understand the different uses of parecer and parecerse.

Take our 10-question quiz to test your knowledge. Take your time. This is excellent practice to reinforce what you’ve learned!

📲 Instagram Reel of the Week

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Gracias por leer

Gracias por estar aquí y seguir avanzando paso a paso. Practicar un poco cada semana hace una gran diferencia. Nos vemos en la próxima edición de Master Spanish Weekly.

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Espero te haya gustado el newsletter de hoy. Hasta el próximo martes.

Un abrazo,

Alejandro Nunez, Founder and Director.