someterse a
verbCEFR B2
What does “someterse a” mean in English?
to undergo, to submit to
to undergo, to submit to (someterse a — go through a formal process or inspection)
Example sentences
El edificio tendrá que someterse a una auditoría exhaustiva antes de que se autorice su reapertura al público.
The building will have to undergo an exhaustive audit before its reopening to the public is authorised.
Los participantes del estudio se sometieron voluntariamente a una serie de pruebas médicas durante doce meses.
The study participants voluntarily underwent a series of medical tests over twelve months.
Cualquier exportación de tecnología dual debe someterse a los controles establecidos por el acuerdo internacional.
Any export of dual-use technology must be subject to the controls established by the international agreement.
How to use it
Someterse a means 'to undergo' or 'to submit to'. It always takes a and implies submitting to a process, authority, or examination: someterse a una auditoría, someterse a una operación, someterse a las normas. The non-reflexive someter means 'to subdue/submit something or someone': el ejército sometió la región. At B2, someterse a + process is the central use. Near-synonyms: pasar por (go through — more neutral), sufrir (suffer/undergo — implies negativity), experimentar (undergo/experience — more neutral).
Common mistake
Someterse a (submit to / undergo — reflexive) vs. someter (subdue/impose on — transitive). The two are clearly different in meaning. Don't confuse with sujetarse a (stick to / adhere to rules — compliance without the sense of going through a process). Someterse a una operación is the standard Spanish for 'to have/undergo surgery'.