publicar
verbCEFR B1High frequency
What does “publicar” mean in English?
to post, to publish
to post, to publish (digital content on a platform or social network); la publicación = the post
Example sentences
Antes de publicar esa foto, asegúrate de que no salga información personal que pueda comprometer tu privacidad.
Before posting that photo, make sure no personal information appears in it that could compromise your privacy.
La marca publicó una serie de vídeos explicando cómo usar el nuevo producto, y en pocas horas ya habían conseguido miles de visualizaciones.
The brand posted a series of videos explaining how to use the new product, and within a few hours they had already received thousands of views.
No publiques nada que pueda ofender a otras personas, porque una vez en internet es muy difícil borrarlo.
Don't post anything that could offend other people, because once it's on the internet it's very hard to delete.
How to use it
Publicar means 'to publish' or 'to post' in the digital context and is the native Spanish equivalent of the anglicism postear. It is transitive: you always publish something — una foto, un vídeo, una publicación, un artículo. On social media the noun form is la publicación (the post). Publicar contrasts with compartir: publicar is the act of creating and releasing new content; compartir is spreading existing content to your own network. Both are transitive and both collocate strongly with contenido, fotos, and noticias.
Common mistake
English speakers often use postear (the anglicism) or the direct calque 'poner' — neither is the natural native choice. Use publicar. Also note the noun: the thing you publish is una publicación, not un post (though el post is used informally in Spain). Publicar is transitive so a direct object is almost always required.