comportarse

Comportarse is a Spanish verb meaning to behave oneself or to conduct oneself in a particular way, especially with regard to social norms and expectations. It is used as a reflexive verb, with the reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os, se) in most constructions. The word is formed from the verb “comportar” plus the reflexive suffix -se. The non-reflexive “comportar” exists in senses such as “to bear” or “to entail” (for example, eso puede comportar problemas).

In practice, “comportarse” describes how someone acts in a given situation, either habitually or in a specific instance. It is common in both everyday and formal language. Typical collocations include “comportarse bien/mal,” “comportarse con respeto,” and the related noun “conducta” or “comportamiento,” meaning behavior. Examples: “Se comporta bien en clase.” “Ese comportamiento no es aceptable.” The verb can express normative judgments or descriptive statements about conduct.

Grammar notes: In the present tense, it follows regular -arse conjugation patterns with the appropriate reflexive pronouns. The term is widely used across the Spanish-speaking world, with minor regional variations in formality and idiomatic preference. See also the noun forms “conducta” and “comportamiento.”