• Hacer is a very general and common verb that means “to do,” “to make,” or “to create.”
• Realizar is more formal and means “to carry out,” “to perform,” or “to accomplish” something specific.
• Hacer can be used in many situations, including everyday tasks, making things, and even weather expressions.
• Realizar is used when referring to the completion or execution of a task, project, or goal.
• Realizar often appears in more formal writing and speech, while hacer is used in both formal and informal contexts.

Usage of hacer

• Hacer can refer to creating or making something: hacer una torta (make a cake).
• It can also mean doing an activity: hacer la tarea (do the homework).
• Hacer is used in many idiomatic expressions: hacer tiempo (kill time), hacer daño (cause harm).
• It is used with weather nouns: Hace calor (It’s hot).
• It can be used with a wide range of objects and activities.

Usage of realizar

• Realizar means to carry out or execute something that has a defined purpose.
• It is often used with tasks, projects, studies, or goals: realizar un informe (write a report), realizar un proyecto (carry out a project).
• It implies completion or successful execution.
• It is more common in formal, academic, or professional contexts.
• It is usually followed by a noun, often related to work or responsibilities.

Examples

Common mistakes

• Avoid using realizar in very casual contexts where hacer would be more natural.
• Don’t replace all hacer with realizar; the former is more versatile.
• Remember that realizar is about completing or carrying out something, not just “making” in a general sense.
• Don’t use realizar with abstract or vague actions that don’t have a clear goal.
• Hacer can appear in many more idiomatic phrases than realizar does.

Tips for learning

• Start by using hacer in your everyday Spanish— it will cover most situations.
• Use realizar when you want to sound more formal or when talking about completing tasks or projects.
• Look for realizar in reading materials like news articles, reports, and academic texts to see how it is used.
• Practice replacing hacer with realizar in sentences about work or studies to gain confidence.
• Listen for context clues: if the sentence is about finishing or carrying out something specific, realizar might be the right choice.