sustituir
verbCEFR B2
What does “sustituir” mean in English?
to substitute, to replace
to substitute, to replace (sustituir X por Y — formally replace one thing or person with another)
Example sentences
Muchas empresas ya están sustituyendo los motores de combustión por sistemas eléctricos en su flota de vehículos.
Many companies are already replacing combustion engines with electric systems in their vehicle fleets.
La inteligencia artificial no va a sustituir completamente a los trabajadores, pero sí transformará sus funciones.
Artificial intelligence is not going to completely replace workers, but it will transform their functions.
Durante su baja, la sustituyó un compañero de otro departamento que conocía bien el puesto.
During her absence, a colleague from another department who knew the role well stood in for her.
How to use it
Sustituir means 'to substitute', 'to replace', or 'to stand in for'. The structure is sustituir X por Y (replace X with Y). Also: sustituir a alguien (stand in for someone). Irregular: sustituyo, sustituyes, sustituye (no -go form). Near-synonyms: reemplazar (replace — same meaning, often interchangeable), desplazar (displace — implies pushing out), suplir (fill in for — often temporary, informal). At B2, the X por Y structure is the core frame.
Common mistake
The structure is sustituir A por B (replace A with B) — not *sustituir A con B. Don't confuse sustituir a alguien (stand in for) with sustituir algo por algo (replace one thing with another) — the personal direct object takes the personal a. Reemplazar and sustituir are interchangeable in most contexts.