casarse

Casarse is a Spanish pronominal verb meaning to get married, i.e., to enter into a legal and social union of two people. It is commonly used with the preposition con to indicate one’s spouse, as in me voy a casar con Marta. The term can also refer more generally to the act of forming a marriage through ceremony and civil registration.

Casarse is a regular -ar verb with reflexive pronouns. In the present tense: me caso, te casas, se casa, nos casamos, os casáis, se casan. Other common forms include the preterite: me casé, te casaste, se casó, nos casamos, os casasteis, se casaron; imperfect: me casaba, te casabas, se casaba, nos casábamos, os casabais, se casaban. The gerund is casando, the past participle casado. In compound tenses one uses the auxiliary haber, as in me he casado, te habías casado, etc.

The verb has related nouns and adjectives: el matrimonio, el casamiento or la boda as terms for the wedding; casado as an adjective meaning married; casarse con alguien to marry someone. Conjugation and usage differ slightly when referring to marrying someone else (transitive usar casar) versus getting married oneself (reflexive casarse).

Cultural and legal aspects vary by country. In many jurisdictions, marriage is both a civil and, in some cases, a religious ceremony. Legal requirements typically include age limits, mutual consent, and witnesses; some places recognize marriages between people of the same sex. The institution is widely recognized as a basis for family rights and responsibilities, though social norms around marriage continue to evolve.