Hacer vs Deshacer vs Rehacer – Learn How to Use Them!

The Spanish verb hacer is one of the first verbs you learn as a novice student. Later on, you get to know other verbs that look similar: deshacer and rehacer. Luckily, differentiating between these three verbs is easier than you think!

Today, let’s explore the differences between the hacer verb and its derivatives: rehacer and deshacer. I’ll show you how to conjugate and use these verbs. I’ll also throw in some useful phrases to use in your next Spanish conversation.

¡Hágamoslo!
Let’s do it!

Hacer Verb – Meaning

The Spanish verb hacer comes from Latin “facere” and basically means “to do.” However, it can also mean:

• to produce
• to cause
• to perform
• to execute
• to meet a certain age

Hacer Conjugation

Hacer is an irregular verb in four indicative tenses: present tense, preterite indicative, future simple, and conditional. In other tenses, it follows the regular -er verbs conjugation rules. It also has an irregular past participle form: hecho

Let me show you how to conjugate Spanish verb hacer. Let’s start with the present indicative tense:

hacer – present simple conjugation chart

And now, look at the preterite conjugation, the Spanish past simple tense. Notice how the letter c changes to z in the third-person singular to maintain the pronunciation. 

hacer – preterite conjugation chart

In the conditional tense, there’s a stem change to har-.

hacer – conditional conjugation chart

You’ll find the same stem in the Spanish future simple tense. 

hacer – future simple conjugation chart

Learn to conjugate the Spanish verb hacer in other indicative regular tenses and in the subjunctive mood! Check out Hacer Conjugation: Free Spanish Lesson, Exercises, and PDF

Example Sentences in Spanish 

Let’s see some example sentences so that you can learn the Spanish verb hacer in context.

Yo hago mi tarea siempre después de comer.
I always do my homework after lunch.

Hiciste buen trabajo.
You did a good job.

¿Qué harías si tuvieras mucho dinero?
What would you do if you had a lot of money?

No sé qué tiempo hará mañana. 
I don’t know what the weather will be tomorrow.

¿Y ahora qué hacemos?
What do we do now? 

5 Spanish Expressions with Hacer

Do you want to learn some expressions with the Spanish verb hacer?

1. Hacer de menos a alguien

To look down on somebody.

Qué nadie te haga de menos, vales mucho.
Don’t let anyone belittle you, you’re worth a lot.

2. Hacer por hacer

To do something for the sake of doing it, without any necessity.

Solo lo hago por hacer.
I just do it for the sake of doing it.

3. Hacer ver

To show and prove something in a way that there’s no room for doubt.

Mi abuelo me hizo ver la importancia de ahorrar dinero.
My grandfather showed me the importance of saving money.

4. Hacerse alguien de rogar

To not agree to what another person asks until they have begged you.

Ay por favor, ¡No te hagas de rogar!
Oh please, don’t make me beg you!

5. ¿Qué le vamos a hacer?

You use this expression when you think that you’re not in power to avoid or change a situation.

Ya nos reprobaron, ¿qué le vamos a hacer? Hay que intentarlo el año que viene otra vez.
We have already failed, what can we do? We have to try again next year.

See also: Time Expressions in Spanish With Hacer, Llevar, and Desde

Deshacer Verb – Meaning

Deshacer is a derivative of the hacer verb. Let’s split it into two parts to understand its meaning:

des + hacer

The prefix des- means “negation,” so deshacer means the opposite of hacer, the opposite of “to do” or “to make”:

• to take apart, to break up
• to unravel
• to unpack
• to undo
• to melt

Deshacer Conjugation

All verbs derived from irregular verbs are also irregular. Since deshacer comes from hacer, its conjugation has the same irregularities. 

deshacer – present simple conjugation chart

deshacer – preterite conjugation chart

deshacer – conditional conjugation chart

deshacer – future simple conjugation chart

Example Sentences in Spanish with Deshacer

Let’s take a look at the deshacer verb in context. There are no idiomatic expressions with this verb, but as I told you earlier, you can translate it in many ways. 

Date prisa, los helados se están deshaciendo.
Hurry up, the ice cream is melting.

Me deshizo la noticia de su partida.
I was devastated by the news of his departure.

Deshicimos el pacto.
We broke the pact.

Tienes que deshacer las maletas.
You have to unpack.

Puedes deshacer la computadora para ver cómo funciona.
You can take apart the computer to see how it works.

Rehacer Verb – Meaning

Rehacer is also a derivative of the hacer verb. The prefix re- means “backwards” and “reiteration,” so rehacer means “to do something again.”

It can translate into:

• to redo
• to remake
• to restore

Rehacer Conjugation

SInce rehacer is a derivation from hacer, its conjugation is identical, with the same irregularities. 

rehacer – present simple conjugation chart

deshacer – preterite conjugation chart

rehacer – conditional conjugation chart

rehacer – future simple conjugation chart

Example Sentences in Spanish with Rehacer

Let’s see the deshacer verb in context. As with deshacer, there are no idiomatic expressions that use this verb, but it translates in many ways. 

Tengo que rehacer mi confianza después de lo que pasó.
I have to rebuild my confidence after what happened.

Ana rehizo el vestido y quedó como nuevo.
Ana remade the dress and it was as good as new.

Reharán la tarea para subir la nota.
You will redo the homework to raise the grade.

Se rehizo por completo después de la bancarrota de su empresa.
She completely redid herself after her company went bankrupt.

Hacer vs. Deshacer vs. Rehacer – Multiple-choice Quiz

Now you’re ready to check how much you’ve learned. Read each sentence and choose the correct verb. (Only one option is correct.)

Practice the Spanish Verb Hacer and Its Derivatives

Great job! You now know how to distinguish between the Spanish verb hacer from deshacer and rehacer—and how to use them properly. You’re closer to Spanish fluency and the dream of bilingualism. 

Keep practicing! To learn new vocabulary and grammar structures, you need to practice and use them yourself.  If you struggle to keep yourself motivated, just remember why you started learning Spanish. Was it because you wanted to travel to a Spanish-speaking country or to talk to your Spanish-speaking friends? Or you were simply fascinated by Spanish or Latin American culture. Simply by studying a language you’re improving your cognition and decision-making abilities!

Start today and sign up for a free trial class at Homeschool Spanish Academy. Let our friendly and professional teachers from Guatemala help you reach your fluency goals and practice the Spanish verb hacer and its derivatives in a 1-to-1 conversation! Check out our affordable pricing and flexible programs!

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Olga Put

Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy

I'm a Spanish philologist, teacher, and freelance writer with a Master's degree in Humanities from Madrid. I speak Polish, Spanish, and English fluently, and want to get better in Portuguese and German. A lover of literature, and Mexican spicy cuisine, I've lived in Poland, Spain, and Mexico and I'm currently living and teaching in Madeira, Portugal.

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