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B1 verb #7,500 am häufigsten 11 Min. Lesezeit

licitar

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At the A1 level, you don't really need the word 'licitar' because it is very formal and specific to business. However, you can think of it as a very special way of saying 'to buy' or 'to offer' in a competition. Imagine you are in a classroom and the teacher says, 'Who wants to clean the board for a sticker?' If you raise your hand and say 'I will do it for one sticker,' and your friend says 'I will do it for zero stickers,' you are both in a simple version of a 'licitación.' You are offering your work for a price. At this level, just remember that 'licitar' is a regular '-ar' verb, so it changes like 'hablar' (yo licito, tú licitas). You probably won't use it yet, but you might see it in a big building sign that says 'Obra licitada por el Gobierno,' which means the government paid a company to build it. It is a big word for a simple idea: competing to get a job by offering a price. Don't worry about using it in your daily life in Spain yet; stick to 'comprar' or 'ofrecer' for now. But if you see it, know it is about money and work.

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At the A2 level, you are starting to understand more about how society works in Spanish. You might see 'licitar' in the news or on posters near construction sites. It is a verb that means 'to bid.' Think of it as a formal version of 'participar en un concurso' (to participate in a contest) but for companies. For example, if a company wants to build a new metro station, they have to 'licitar.' They write a document saying how much money they need and how long they will take. At this level, you should recognize the word and know it is a business word. You can use it in simple sentences like 'La empresa quiere licitar' (The company wants to bid). Remember it is a regular verb. You might also see the noun 'licitación.' If you are visiting a Spanish city and see a new bridge being built, look for a sign nearby. It will likely mention who 'licitó' the project. It is a good word to know if you want to read basic news about your city or country. It helps you understand that in Spanish, there are different words for 'bidding' depending on if it is a fun contest or a serious business deal.

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As a B1 learner, 'licitar' is a word you should definitely add to your vocabulary, especially if you plan to work in a Spanish-speaking environment. This is the level where you move beyond basic needs and start discussing more complex topics like the economy and professional life. 'Licitar' means to submit a tender or bid for a project. It is most commonly used when talking about public works (obras públicas) or government services. You need to know that it is often used with the preposition 'por' (licitar por un contrato). You should also be able to distinguish it from 'pujar,' which is used for auctions. At B1, you can use it in sentences like: 'Nuestra empresa decidió licitar por la construcción del nuevo hospital.' You should also recognize the noun 'licitación' (tender) and 'licitador' (bidder). This word is very common in the media. If you read a Spanish newspaper, you will see it in the business or local news sections. Understanding 'licitar' shows that you are reaching a level of Spanish where you can handle professional and administrative concepts. It is a key term for 'Spanish for Business.'

At the B2 level, you are expected to use 'licitar' with precision and understand its implications in a professional context. You should know that 'licitar' can be used both as an intransitive verb (La empresa licitó por el contrato) and as a transitive verb when the subject is the entity opening the tender (El Estado licitó la obra). You should be comfortable using it in various tenses, including the conditional and the subjunctive, which are common in business negotiations and formal reports. For example: 'Si el gobierno licitara más proyectos de energía verde, la economía mejoraría.' You should also understand related terms like 'pliego de condiciones' (tender specifications) and 'adjudicación' (awarding of the contract). At this level, you can participate in a discussion about why a company might choose to 'licitar' or not, considering the risks and the 'presupuesto' (budget). You should also be aware of the register; 'licitar' is formal. In an informal setting, you might use 'presentarse a un concurso,' but in a board meeting or a formal email, 'licitar' is the correct term. It reflects a high level of linguistic competence and professional awareness.

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For C1 learners, 'licitar' is a fundamental part of a sophisticated vocabulary. You should understand the legal and administrative nuances of the word. For instance, the difference between a 'licitación abierta' (open tender) and a 'licitación restringida' (restricted tender). You should be able to use the word in complex legal or economic analyses. For example: 'La transparencia en los procesos de licitar es fundamental para prevenir la corrupción en la administración pública.' At this level, you should also be familiar with idiomatic expressions or more technical collocations like 'derecho a licitar,' 'capacidad para licitar,' or 'licitar a la baja' (to bid low, often used when companies offer a price so low it might compromise quality). You should also understand how 'licitar' fits into the broader context of 'contratación pública.' Your ability to use this word correctly in a formal presentation or a technical report is a hallmark of the C1 level. You should also be able to recognize when the word is being used figuratively, though it is rare. Most importantly, you should be able to navigate the 'pliegos de licitación' (bidding documents) if you were working in a Spanish-speaking law firm or engineering company.

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At the C2 level, you have a masterly command of 'licitar' and its entire lexical family. You understand not just the word, but the entire legal framework of 'Ley de Contratos del Sector Público' that governs it in countries like Spain. You can discuss the philosophical and ethical implications of 'licitar,' such as the balance between price and quality in 'licitaciones públicas.' You are comfortable with the most archaic or hyper-formal uses of the term found in old legal codes or high-level academic papers on administrative law. You can use the word with perfect nuance in a high-stakes negotiation, understanding exactly what 'licitar en nombre de un tercero' (bidding on behalf of a third party) implies legally. You are also capable of identifying regional variations in how the process of 'licitar' is described across the Spanish-speaking world, from the 'concursos' of some Latin American nations to the 'licitaciones' of the Southern Cone. At this level, 'licitar' is not just a vocabulary word; it is a tool you use to navigate the highest levels of Hispanic professional and intellectual life with total fluency and authority.

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licitar in 30 Sekunden

Licitar is a formal Spanish verb meaning 'to bid' or 'to tender' for contracts.
It is primarily used in business, construction, and government contexts.
Unlike 'pujar' (auctions), 'licitar' involves complex legal and technical proposals.
It is a regular -ar verb, making it easy to conjugate but professional in tone.

The Spanish verb licitar is a specialized term primarily used in the realms of business, law, and public administration. At its core, it means to submit a formal offer or bid to perform a task, provide a service, or acquire something, usually within a competitive framework known as a tender or auction. While in English we might simply say 'to bid,' licitar carries a weight of formality and legal procedure that is often associated with government contracts or large-scale corporate projects. When a city council decides to build a new park, they don't just hire a friend; they open a process where various companies can licitar, presenting their budgets, timelines, and technical capabilities.

Formal Context: Used in legal documents, news reports regarding infrastructure, and corporate strategy meetings.

Varias constructoras internacionales decidieron licitar por la construcción del nuevo puente sobre el río Ebro.

Translation: Several international construction companies decided to bid for the construction of the new bridge over the Ebro River.

The word is essential for anyone navigating the professional landscape in Spanish-speaking countries. It implies a 'concurso público' (public tender). In these scenarios, the entity offering the contract (the 'licitante') sets the rules, and the interested parties (the 'licitadores') must follow strict guidelines to submit their proposals. Failure to follow these rules often results in being disqualified from the process. Understanding licitar is not just about the word itself, but about understanding the bureaucratic and economic structures of the Hispanic world, where public works are a major part of the economy.

Economic Impact: The act of licitar ensures transparency and competition in the allocation of public funds.

Es obligatorio licitar cualquier proyecto que supere los cien mil euros.

In everyday conversation, you might not use licitar unless you work in law, engineering, or government. However, it appears constantly in Spanish news. Headlines often read 'El gobierno licita la gestión del agua' or 'Nuevas empresas se presentan para licitar en el sector energético.' This frequency makes it a high-frequency B1-level word for anyone reading the newspaper or watching the news in Spanish. It represents the intersection of law, money, and public service. Furthermore, the word is deeply rooted in the idea of 'licit' or 'legal'—it is the lawful way to compete for a contract.

Legal Nuance: The process is governed by administrative law, making every 'licitación' a legally binding series of events.

La empresa fue excluida por no cumplir con los requisitos para licitar.

¿Tienes ya toda la documentación preparada para poder licitar?

Using licitar correctly requires understanding its transitivity and the prepositions that typically accompany it. Most commonly, you licitar por something (bid for something) or you licitar en a process (bid in a process). Because it is a regular -ar verb, its conjugation is straightforward, following the pattern of 'hablar' or 'cantar.' This simplicity in form belies its complexity in meaning. For instance, in the present tense: 'Yo licito,' 'Tú licitas,' 'Él licita.' In a sentence: 'Nuestra empresa licita habitualmente en proyectos de energía solar.' (Our company regularly bids on solar energy projects.)

Prepositional Use: Licitar por [object/contract] or Licitar en [tender/process].

Estamos considerando licitar por la concesión del servicio de limpieza municipal.

It can also be used transitively, where the object is the project itself. 'El ayuntamiento va a licitar la obra el próximo mes.' Here, the subject is the entity issuing the tender. This dual nature—where both the bidder and the issuer can be the subject of the verb—is a key point of confusion for learners. If the government is the subject, they are opening the bid. If a company is the subject, they are submitting the bid. Context is everything. When the government 'licita una obra,' they are inviting others to submit offers. When a company 'licita por una obra,' they are making the offer.

Common Tenses: Future (licitaremos) and Past Perfect (hemos licitado) are very frequent in business reports.

El año pasado, licitamos en tres concursos diferentes y ganamos dos.

In the passive voice, which is common in administrative Spanish, you might see: 'La obra fue licitada mediante un procedimiento de urgencia.' (The work was put out to tender through an emergency procedure.) This highlights the procedural nature of the verb. It is rarely used in the imperative (command) form unless a manager is telling their team '¡Licitad por ese contrato!' which sounds quite formal. Most of the time, you will find it in the infinitive after verbs like 'decidir,' 'querer,' or 'intentar,' or in the present/past indicative to describe business activities.

Infinitive Phrases: 'Tener intención de licitar' or 'Estar habilitado para licitar'.

Para poder licitar con el Estado, es necesario estar inscrito en el registro oficial.

Si no licitamos ahora, perderemos la oportunidad de expandirnos este trimestre.

If you are walking down the street in Madrid or Mexico City, you probably won't hear a teenager say licitar. This word lives in the office, the courtroom, and the television news studio. It is a staple of 'telediarios' (news broadcasts) when they discuss public spending. For example, if there is a scandal about a government contract being awarded unfairly, the reporter will use licitar and its noun form licitación repeatedly. It is the language of the 'Boletín Oficial' and the business section of newspapers like 'El País' or 'Gestión.'

News Media: Frequent in headlines regarding infrastructure, transport, and healthcare contracts.

El Ministerio de Fomento ha anunciado que volverá a licitar el mantenimiento de las autopistas.

In a professional setting, specifically in construction, architecture, or IT services, licitar is part of the daily jargon. Project managers will discuss 'la estrategia para licitar' or 'los pliegos para licitar' (the specifications to bid). It is also common in international organizations like the UN or the World Bank when they operate in Spanish-speaking regions. If you are an expat working in a Spanish company, hearing this word means a lot of paperwork and technical writing is coming your way. It signifies a competitive, high-stakes environment where every detail of a proposal matters.

Professional Jargon: Common in fields like civil engineering, legal consulting, and public procurement.

Nuestros abogados están revisando los términos antes de licitar.

Another place you will encounter this word is in university courses related to economics or public administration. Students learn about the 'derecho de licitar' and the ethics of public bidding. In the digital age, 'licitar' is also moving online. Many governments now have 'plataformas de licitación electrónica' (e-bidding platforms). Thus, you will see the word prominently on government websites and portals. If you are looking for work as a contractor in Spain or Latin America, the word licitar will be your gateway to finding opportunities. It is the formal invitation to participate in the economy at a structural level.

Digital Platforms: Found on buttons and menus of government 'contratación' websites.

Haz clic aquí para licitar de forma telemática.

¿Es la primera vez que tu empresa va a licitar en el extranjero?

The most frequent mistake English speakers make with licitar is confusing it with 'pujar.' While both are translated as 'to bid,' they are not interchangeable. 'Pujar' is what you do at an auction for a painting or a used car; it is often a quick, verbal, or simple numeric offer. 'Licitar' is a bureaucratic process. If you say 'Voy a pujar por el contrato de la autopista,' people will understand you, but it sounds slightly unprofessional. Conversely, saying 'Voy a licitar por este cuadro de Picasso' sounds absurdly formal, as if you are submitting a 50-page technical proposal to buy a painting.

Licitar vs. Pujar: Licitar = Complex contracts/tenders. Pujar = Auctions/Simple price offers.

Incorrecto: El coleccionista decidió licitar mil euros en la subasta.

Another common error is the subject-verb relationship. As mentioned before, because the verb can describe both the act of 'opening' a tender (by the government) and 'submitting' a bid (by a company), learners often get confused about who is doing what. If you say 'El gobierno está licitando,' it means they are looking for contractors. If you say 'La empresa está licitando,' it means they are trying to get the job. To avoid ambiguity, it is better to say 'El gobierno ha sacado a licitación...' (The government has put out for tender...) or 'La empresa se ha presentado a la licitación...' (The company has submitted a bid...).

Preposition Errors: Avoid 'licitar a' when you mean 'bid for'. Use 'licitar por' or 'licitar en'.

Correcto: Vamos a licitar por el suministro de material de oficina.

Learners also sometimes confuse licitar with 'lícitar,' which isn't a word, or 'lícito,' which means 'licit' or 'lawful.' While they share the same Latin root, 'lícito' is an adjective and 'licitar' is a verb. Just because something is 'lícito' doesn't mean you are 'licitando.' Finally, watch out for the spelling. It is often misspelled as 'lisitar' because in many Latin American accents (seseo), 'c' and 's' sound the same. Remember: C for Contrato or Concurso.

Spelling Trap: Always with a 'C'. Never 'lisitar'.

¿Es lícito licitar en dos concursos similares a la vez?

No confundas licitar (to bid) con licenciar (to license).

Spanish has several verbs related to competition and offers, but each has its specific niche. Understanding these nuances will help you sound more like a native speaker and less like a textbook. The most common alternative is concursar. While licitar is strictly for bidding on contracts or auctions, concursar is broader. You can 'concursar' in a reality TV show, a beauty pageant, or a literary competition. In a business context, they are often used as synonyms, but licitar is more technical and specific to the financial/legal offer.

Licitar vs. Concursar: Licitar is for formal business bids. Concursar is for any type of competition.

La empresa va a concursar en el certamen de innovación (Broad) vs. La empresa va a licitar por la obra (Specific).

Another word you will encounter is ofertar. This simply means 'to offer.' In the context of a tender, ofertar refers to the specific act of proposing a price. 'Hemos ofertado un millón de euros.' Licitar is the whole process of participating, while ofertar is the act of naming your price. Then there is subastar. This is what the seller does. A government 'subasta' (auctions off) land, and companies 'licitan' to buy it. If you are the one selling, you 'subastas'; if you are the one buying/bidding, you 'licitas' or 'pujas.'

Related Terms: Postularse (to apply/volunteer), Adjudicar (to award a contract).

Tras licitar, esperamos que nos adjudiquen el contrato pronto.

Finally, for more informal settings, people might use 'presentarse a.' For example, 'Nos vamos a presentar al concurso de la limpieza.' This is perfectly natural and less heavy than 'licitar.' However, if you are writing a formal email to a partner or a legal brief, licitar is the superior choice. It shows that you understand the formal mechanisms of the Spanish-speaking business world. In summary: use pujar for auctions, concursar for general contests, ofertar for the price itself, and licitar for formal tenders and government contracts.

Formal vs. Informal: Formal: Licitar por el contrato. Informal: Presentarse al concurso.

Es mejor licitar con una propuesta técnica sólida que solo con un precio bajo.

¿Sabes qué empresas van a licitar esta vez?

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

It shares the same root as 'licit' (legal), because the bidding process is the 'lawful' way to determine a price or award a contract.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /li.θi.ˈtaɾ/

US /li.si.ˈtaɾ/

The stress is on the final syllable '-tar'.

Reimt sich auf

cantar hablar pensar llegar ganar luchar lograr aceptar

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing the 'c' as a hard 'k' (likitar).
Stress on the first or second syllable (LI-citar or li-CI-tar).
Confusing it with 'lisitar' (spelling/pronunciation error).

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 4/5

Common in news and formal texts, requiring specific context.

Schreiben 5/5

Requires knowledge of prepositions and formal tone.

Sprechen 5/5

Rarely used in casual speech; mostly professional.

Hören 4/5

Easy to hear but must be distinguished from 'pujar'.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

empresa contrato ofrecer precio gobierno

Als Nächstes lernen

adjudicar pliego concesión presupuesto solvencia

Fortgeschritten

colusión temeridad subsanación formalización

Wichtige Grammatik

Regular -ar verb conjugation

Yo licito, tú licitas, él licita.

Preposition 'por' for target

Licitamos por el contrato de energía.

Passive voice with 'ser'

La obra fue licitada por el ministerio.

Subjunctive for uncertainty/desire

Espero que licitemos pronto.

Infinitive as subject

Licitar requiere mucha paciencia.

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Beispiele nach Niveau

La empresa quiere licitar.

The company wants to bid.

Present tense, 3rd person singular.

Yo no sé cómo licitar.

I don't know how to bid.

Infinitive after 'saber'.

Ellos van a licitar mañana.

They are going to bid tomorrow.

Periphrastic future 'ir a + infinitive'.

Es bueno licitar por el trabajo.

It is good to bid for the job.

Infinitive as a subject complement.

Mi padre licita en su oficina.

My father bids in his office.

Present tense, 3rd person singular.

Queremos licitar por el proyecto.

We want to bid for the project.

Present tense, 1st person plural.

Tú puedes licitar también.

You can bid too.

Infinitive after 'poder'.

El gobierno va a licitar la obra.

The government is going to put the work out to tender.

Transitive use of licitar.

La constructora decidió licitar por el puente.

The construction company decided to bid for the bridge.

Preterite tense.

No es fácil licitar en este país.

It is not easy to bid in this country.

Negative sentence with infinitive.

Estamos preparando los papeles para licitar.

We are preparing the papers to bid.

Present continuous + para + infinitive.

Muchas empresas licitan cada año.

Many companies bid every year.

Present tense, 3rd person plural.

¿Vas a licitar por ese contrato?

Are you going to bid for that contract?

Question in the near future.

Licitamos ayer pero no ganamos.

We bid yesterday but we didn't win.

Preterite tense, 1st person plural.

Ella sabe licitar muy bien.

She knows how to bid very well.

Infinitive after 'saber'.

El ayuntamiento licitó la limpieza de las calles.

The city council put the street cleaning out to tender.

Transitive preterite.

Es necesario cumplir los requisitos para poder licitar.

It is necessary to meet the requirements to be able to bid.

Infinitive phrase with 'para poder'.

Si licitamos por este proyecto, necesitaremos más personal.

If we bid for this project, we will need more staff.

First conditional (Si + present, future).

El gobierno ha vuelto a licitar la gestión del agua.

The government has put the water management out to tender again.

Present perfect with 'volver a'.

Ninguna empresa quiso licitar por las condiciones tan duras.

No company wanted to bid because of the very harsh conditions.

Preterite with negative subject 'ninguna'.

Estamos analizando si vale la pena licitar.

We are analyzing if it is worth bidding.

Indirect question after 'analizar'.

Licitaremos en cuanto se publiquen los pliegos.

We will bid as soon as the specifications are published.

Future tense + 'en cuanto' + subjunctive.

La empresa ha licitado en varios concursos internacionales.

The company has bid in several international tenders.

Present perfect tense.

No podemos licitar si no tenemos la fianza preparada.

We cannot bid if we don't have the deposit ready.

Conditional sentence with 'si no'.

Dudo que la empresa decida licitar con ese presupuesto tan bajo.

I doubt the company will decide to bid with such a low budget.

Subjunctive after 'dudar que'.

Habiendo licitado anteriormente, ya conocemos el procedimiento.

Having bid previously, we already know the procedure.

Perfect participle 'habiendo + participle'.

Es fundamental que licitemos antes de que acabe el plazo.

It is fundamental that we bid before the deadline ends.

Subjunctive after 'es fundamental que'.

La administración suele licitar estos servicios cada cuatro años.

The administration usually puts these services out to tender every four years.

'Soler' + infinitive.

A pesar de licitar a la baja, no consiguieron el contrato.

Despite bidding low, they did not get the contract.

'A pesar de' + infinitive.

Cualquier entidad interesada puede licitar libremente.

Any interested entity can bid freely.

Use of 'cualquier' as a determiner.

El director propuso licitar en consorcio con otra empresa.

The director proposed bidding in a consortium with another company.

Infinitive phrase 'en consorcio con'.

Se rumorea que van a licitar la construcción de una nueva terminal.

It is rumored that they are going to put the construction of a new terminal out to tender.

Impersonal 'se' construction.

La transparencia al licitar garantiza la igualdad de oportunidades.

Transparency when bidding guarantees equal opportunities.

Infinitive as a gerundial phrase.

Resulta imperativo licitar conforme a la normativa vigente.

It is imperative to bid in accordance with current regulations.

Formal structure 'resulta + adjective'.

Se desestimó su oferta por no estar habilitados para licitar.

Their offer was dismissed because they were not authorized to bid.

Passive voice 'se desestimó'.

Licitar en mercados extranjeros requiere un análisis de riesgos exhaustivo.

Bidding in foreign markets requires an exhaustive risk analysis.

Infinitive as the subject of the sentence.

No basta con licitar; hay que presentar un proyecto innovador.

It is not enough to bid; one must present an innovative project.

'No basta con' + infinitive.

El hecho de licitar ya supone un coste considerable para la empresa.

The act of bidding already entails a considerable cost for the company.

'El hecho de' + infinitive.

Pocas pymes se atreven a licitar por grandes obras de infraestructura.

Few SMEs dare to bid for large infrastructure works.

Pronominal verb 'atreverse a'.

La ley obliga a licitar públicamente todos los contratos de suministro.

The law obliges to publicly tender all supply contracts.

Verb 'obligar a' + infinitive.

La recurrente alegó que se le impidió licitar arbitrariamente.

The appellant alleged that they were arbitrarily prevented from bidding.

Legal terminology 'recurrente', 'alegó'.

La decisión de licitar a la baja de forma temeraria fue su ruina.

The decision to bid recklessly low was their ruin.

Adverbial phrase 'de forma temeraria'.

Subyace un interés político en la premura por licitar este tramo.

There is an underlying political interest in the haste to tender this section.

Sophisticated verb 'subyacer'.

El pliego de condiciones técnicas es el eje sobre el cual se debe licitar.

The technical specifications document is the axis on which one must bid.

Relative clause 'sobre el cual'.

Resulta loable que pequeñas cooperativas decidan licitar en igualdad de condiciones.

It is commendable that small cooperatives decide to bid on equal terms.

Subjunctive after 'resulta loable que'.

La empresa fue sancionada por colusión al licitar en diversos contratos.

The company was sanctioned for collusion when bidding on various contracts.

Noun 'colusión' and passive voice.

No se puede licitar sin una solvencia técnica y económica acreditada.

One cannot bid without proven technical and economic solvency.

Impersonal 'se' with 'acreditada'.

La administración se reserva el derecho de no licitar si no hay ofertas válidas.

The administration reserves the right not to tender if there are no valid offers.

Reflexive 'se reserva' + 'el derecho de'.

Häufige Kollokationen

licitar una obra

licitar por un contrato

derecho a licitar

licitar a la baja

invitación a licitar

licitar públicamente

procedimiento para licitar

capacidad para licitar

licitar en consorcio

plazo para licitar

Häufige Phrasen

sacar a licitación

— To put out to tender (used by the government).

Van a sacar a licitación el servicio de correos.

presentarse a licitar

— To show up/submit to the bidding process.

Nos presentaremos a licitar el próximo lunes.

quedar fuera de la licitación

— To be excluded from the bidding process.

Quedamos fuera de la licitación por un error técnico.

ganar la licitación

— To win the contract after bidding.

¡Hemos ganado la licitación de la autopista!

abrir el sobre de licitación

— To open the bid envelope (ceremonial/formal).

El juez procedió a abrir el sobre de licitación.

licitación desierta

— A tender with no bidders/offers.

La licitación quedó desierta.

pliego de licitación

— The document containing all tender rules.

Lee bien el pliego de licitación.

mesa de licitación

— The committee that evaluates the bids.

La mesa de licitación se reúne mañana.

licitar de forma telemática

— To bid online/electronically.

Ahora es obligatorio licitar de forma telemática.

licitación restringida

— A tender only for invited parties.

Es una licitación restringida para expertos.

Wird oft verwechselt mit

licitar vs pujar

Pujar is for auctions (art, ebay); licitar is for formal contracts (government, construction).

licitar vs licenciar

Licenciar means to license or to graduate; licitar means to bid.

licitar vs lícito

Lícito is an adjective meaning lawful; licitar is the verb to bid.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"licitar a ciegas"

— To bid without knowing the full details or what others are offering.

No podemos licitar a ciegas sin ver el terreno.

Professional/Colloquial

"echar el resto al licitar"

— To put in maximum effort or the best possible price to win.

Echaron el resto al licitar por ese contrato.

Informal

"licitar por amor al arte"

— To bid for something without expecting a profit (rarely used in business).

Nadie licita por amor al arte en este sector.

Ironical

"estar en la liza"

— To be in the competition (originally for jousting, now used for tenders).

Seguimos en la liza para ganar el contrato.

Literary

"tirar los precios"

— To bid extremely low to win (related to 'licitar a la baja').

Están tirando los precios para licitar.

Colloquial

"jugar sucio en la licitación"

— To use unfair or illegal tactics during bidding.

Intentaron jugar sucio en la licitación.

Informal

"tener la sartén por el mango"

— To have the upper hand (often said of the entity licitando/issuing).

El gobierno tiene la sartén por el mango al licitar.

Idiomatic

"dar el do de pecho"

— To give one's absolute best (used when submitting a final bid).

Hay que dar el do de pecho al licitar esta vez.

Colloquial

"poner las cartas sobre la mesa"

— To reveal one's true intentions or final offer.

Pusieron las cartas sobre la mesa al licitar.

Common

"no dar puntada sin hilo"

— To do nothing without a reason (referring to calculated bidding).

Ellos no dan puntada sin hilo al licitar.

Idiomatic

Leicht verwechselbar

licitar vs concursar

Both mean to participate in a contest.

Concursar is broader (TV shows, sports); licitar is specifically for business tenders.

Voy a concursar en la tele vs. Voy a licitar por la obra.

licitar vs subastar

Both involve bidding.

Subastar is what the seller does; licitar is what the buyer/contractor does.

El estado subasta el terreno; la empresa licita para comprarlo.

licitar vs ofertar

Both involve making an offer.

Ofertar focuses on the price/product; licitar focuses on the formal process.

Ofertamos un precio bajo al licitar.

licitar vs postular

Both mean to put oneself forward.

Postular is for jobs or candidates; licitar is for projects or contracts.

Se postula a presidente; licita por el contrato.

licitar vs licitud

Similar sound.

Licitud is the noun for lawfulness; licitar is the verb for bidding.

La licitud del proceso es clave al licitar.

Satzmuster

[Sujeto] + quiere + licitar.

La empresa quiere licitar.

[Sujeto] + decidió + licitar + por + [objeto].

Decidieron licitar por el puente.

Es + [adjetivo] + licitar.

Es difícil licitar.

Si + [subjuntivo], + licitaríamos.

Si tuviéramos dinero, licitaríamos.

Después de + licitar, + [acción].

Después de licitar, esperamos.

El hecho de + licitar + [verbo].

El hecho de licitar implica gastos.

Licitar + conforme a + [norma].

Debemos licitar conforme a la ley.

Se + [verbo pasivo] + la opción de + licitar.

Se desestimó la opción de licitar.

Wortfamilie

Substantive

licitación (tender/bidding process)

licitador (bidder)

licitante (the person/entity opening the bid)

Verben

licitar (to bid)

Adjektive

licitado (tendered/bid upon)

licitatorio (relating to bidding)

Verwandt

lícito

licitud

licencia

concurso

subasta

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frequency

High in professional/legal/media contexts; low in casual speech.

Häufige Fehler

Voy a licitar por esta televisión en la subasta. → Voy a pujar por esta televisión en la subasta.
Licitar is too formal for simple consumer auctions; pujar is the correct term.
El gobierno va a licenciar la obra. → El gobierno va a licitar la obra.
Licenciar means to license or to permit; licitar means to put out to tender.
Espero que nosotros lisitemos pronto. → Espero que nosotros licitemos pronto.
Spelling error: 'licitar' is always with a 'c'.
La empresa licitó a el contrato. → La empresa licitó por el contrato.
Incorrect preposition; you bid 'for' (por) something.
Yo licito para un nuevo trabajo. → Yo me postulo para un nuevo trabajo.
Licitar is for projects/contracts, not for individual job applications.

Tipps

Learn the Noun First

If 'licitar' feels too formal to say, start by using 'licitación'. It is very common in news headlines and easier to recognize.

Watch the Prepositions

Remember: Licitar + por (the prize) or Licitar + en (the event). Using the right preposition makes you sound much more native.

Think Construction

Most 'licitaciones' are related to construction. Associate the word with cranes and blueprints to remember its primary usage.

Business Spanish Essential

If you are taking a Business Spanish exam (like the B2/C1 DELE), 'licitar' is a high-yield word that examiners love to see.

C for Contract

In areas with 'seseo', it sounds like 'lisitar'. Always remember it is spelled with a 'C' like 'Contrato' or 'Concurso'.

Check the Law

In Spain, 'licitar' is governed by the 'Ley de Contratos'. Knowing it is a legal term helps you understand its restricted usage.

News Practice

Watch the 'Telediario' (Spanish news). You will almost certainly hear 'licitar' or 'licitación' when they talk about the economy.

Formal Emails

When writing to a Spanish government office, use 'licitar' to show respect for the formal administrative process.

Not for eBay

Don't use 'licitar' for online auctions like eBay. There, 'pujar' is the only natural word to use.

Licitador vs Licitante

The 'licitador' is the one giving the money; the 'licitante' is the one asking for the service. Knowing the difference is key.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of 'LICit' (legal) + 'TAR' (like a target). You are 'targeting' a contract 'legally'.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a businessperson handing a sealed envelope (the bid) to a government official in a grand building.

Word Web

Contrato Empresa Gobierno Dinero Oferta Legal Concurso Obra

Herausforderung

Try to explain to a friend (in Spanish) how a company gets a contract to build a road using the word 'licitar'.

Wortherkunft

From the Latin verb 'licitari', which means 'to offer a price' or 'to bid'.

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: To strive for, to offer a price at an auction.

Romance (Latin root 'liceri' - to be for sale).

Kultureller Kontext

Be aware that discussions about 'licitar' can sometimes touch on sensitive topics like government corruption or favoritism.

In English, we use 'to bid' for both auctions and tenders. In Spanish, you MUST distinguish between 'pujar' and 'licitar'.

BOE (Boletín Oficial del Estado) - The primary source for licitaciones in Spain. Ley de Contratos del Sector Público - The law governing how to licitar. Plataforma de Contratación del Sector Público - The online portal for bidding.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Infrastructure Projects

Licitar la carretera
Presupuesto para licitar
Ingeniería para licitar
Plazo de ejecución

Public Services

Licitar la limpieza
Contrato de basuras
Gestión de aguas
Servicios sociales

Corporate Strategy

Estrategia para licitar
Análisis de la competencia
Margen de beneficio
Riesgo financiero

Legal/Administrative

Impugnar la licitación
Requisitos para licitar
Inscripción en el registro
Capacidad de obrar

International Tenders

Licitar en el extranjero
Mercados emergentes
Consorcio internacional
Normativa europea

Gesprächseinstiege

"¿Has trabajado alguna vez en una empresa que decidiera licitar por contratos públicos?"

"¿Crees que es justo el sistema de licitar por el precio más bajo?"

"¿Qué documentos crees que son más importantes para poder licitar con éxito?"

"¿Alguna vez has visto una noticia sobre problemas al licitar una obra importante?"

"¿Te parece difícil el proceso de licitar en tu país comparado con otros?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Describe un proyecto imaginario por el cual te gustaría licitar si tuvieras una empresa de construcción.

Explica las diferencias que encuentras entre 'licitar' y 'pujar' basándote en lo que has aprendido.

Escribe sobre la importancia de la transparencia cuando el gobierno decide licitar servicios básicos.

Si fueras el director de una empresa, ¿qué criterios usarías para decidir si licitar o no por un contrato?

Investiga una licitación real en un país de habla hispana y resume los puntos clave del proceso.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

Licitar se usa para contratos formales y proyectos grandes, mientras que pujar se usa en subastas de objetos o arte. Por ejemplo, licitas por una obra de una carretera, pero pujas por un cuadro en una galería.

Sí, es correcto. Cuando el gobierno saca un contrato para que las empresas participen, está licitando el contrato. Las empresas, por su parte, licitan por el contrato.

Sí, es un verbo regular terminado en -ar. Sigue el mismo modelo que 'amar' o 'hablar' en todos sus tiempos y personas (yo licito, tú licitas, él licitó, nosotros licitaremos).

Es cuando un proceso de licitación termina sin que ninguna empresa se haya presentado o sin que ninguna oferta cumpla con los requisitos. Significa que nadie ganó el contrato.

Debes usar 'licitar por' cuando eres la parte que ofrece el servicio o dinero para conseguir algo. Ejemplo: 'Nuestra constructora va a licitar por la construcción del túnel'.

No, es un término técnico y formal. Se usa principalmente en entornos profesionales, noticias económicas y documentos legales. En casa, usarías 'ofrecer' o 'participar'.

Significa presentar una oferta económica muy reducida para intentar ganar el concurso asegurando que eres la opción más barata para el cliente o el estado.

El sustantivo principal es 'licitación'. También existen 'licitador' (el que hace la oferta) y 'licitante' (el que convoca el concurso).

Sí, es un término estándar en el español jurídico y empresarial de España y de toda Hispanoamérica, aunque en algunos países 'concursar' sea un sinónimo muy frecuente.

No, para un puesto de trabajo se usa 'postularse', 'solicitar' o 'presentarse'. 'Licitar' es exclusivo para contratos, obras, servicios o compras en subastas.

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