Cambiarse

Cambiarse is a Spanish verb used pronominally to indicate that the subject changes something about themselves. The most common use is to refer to changing clothes or appearance, as in me voy a cambiar or se cambió de ropa. The reflexive form se is required: the verb is conjugated like a regular -ar verb, but with reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, os, se). For example in the present tense: me cambio, te cambias, se cambia, nos cambiamos, os cambiáis, se cambian.

Beyond changing clothes, cambiarse can express other changes that affect the subject or involve a change of state or location, often with a de phrase. Examples include cambiarse de ropa (to change clothes), cambiarse de casa (to move to another house), cambiarse de asiento (to switch seats), or cambiarse de tema (to change the subject). The construction with de is common and helps specify what is being changed.

In figurative or broader senses, the action can imply a shift in preferences or positions, though more common expressions use cambiar de idea or cambiar de opinión to denote changing one’s mind. A reflexive usage, such as me cambié de opinión, is also possible and widely understood.

Etymology: cambiarse derives from cambiar, which itself comes from Latin cambiare, meaning to exchange or modify. Conjugation follows the standard patterns of regular -ar verbs in its reflexive form.

See also: cambiar, ropa, vestirse, cambiar de idea, cambiar de opinión.