Aumentar vs. crecer vs. incrementarse
In Spanish, various words can convey the idea of increasing or growing. While they might seem interchangeable, each has distinct nuances and usage contexts. This guide will clarify the differences between 'aumentar', 'crecer', and 'incrementarse'.
Aumentar
'Aumentar' means to increase in quantity, size, or degree. It often implies an addition or enhancement.
La empresa decidió aumentar los salarios de sus empleados.
(The company decided to increase the salaries of its employees.)
El ruido en la calle comenzó a aumentar.
(The noise on the street started to increase.)
Tenemos que aumentar la producción para satisfacer la demanda.
(We need to increase production to meet demand.)
Crecer
'Crecer' means to grow in size, age, or develop. It usually refers to living entities such as plants, children, businesses, or abstract concepts like talent.
Los niños crecen muy rápido.
(Children grow very quickly.)
Las plantas en el jardín están comenzando a crecer.
(The plants in the garden are starting to grow.)
Su negocio ha crecido exponencialmente en los últimos años.
(His business has grown exponentially in recent years.)
Incrementarse
'Incrementarse' means to increase or rise, commonly used in formal contexts and often referring to numerical values or statistics.
La producción se ha incrementado de forma notable.
(Production has remarkably increased.)
Las tasas de interés se incrementaron repentinamente.
(Interest rates increased suddenly.)
Durante la pandemia, se incrementó el uso de tecnologías digitales.
(During the pandemic, the use of digital technologies increased.)
Summary
While 'aumentar' emphasizes adding or enhancing something quantitatively or qualitatively, 'crecer' focuses on growth and development over time, particularly for living entities and abstract ideas. On the other hand, 'incrementarse' is more formal and numerically inclined, often used in statistical contexts.