How Do You Say Proposed in Spanish? | Pick The Right Verb

“Proposed” can be “propuesto/a” (suggested) or a form of “proponer” like “propuso”, depending on meaning and tense.

You’ll see “proposed” in emails, school work, meetings, and relationship talk. Spanish has clean options for each use, but you have to match the English sense first. If you pick the wrong one, your sentence can shift from “suggested a plan” to “asked someone to marry them.”

This article breaks the word into the meanings people use most, then shows the Spanish forms that fit each one. You’ll get ready-to-copy sentence patterns, plus a quick edit pass to catch the usual slip-ups.

What “Proposed” Means In English

English uses one word for several ideas. Spanish splits them up. Start by asking what “proposed” is doing in your sentence.

• Suggested or put forward: “He proposed a plan.”
• Formally nominated: “They proposed her as chair.”
• Offered a deal: “The vendor proposed new terms.”
• Announced as a draft: “The proposed law…”
• Marriage proposal: “He proposed.”

Once you spot the sense, the Spanish choice gets simple.

How To Say Proposed In Spanish In Real Sentences

Most of the time, you’ll land on one of two routes:

• Use “propuesto/a” when “proposed” works like a descriptive label: “the proposed change.”
• Use a verb form of “proponer” when someone did the action of proposing: “she proposed the idea.”

The dictionary entry for “proponer” in the RAE shows both the meanings and the full conjugation, which helps when you’re matching tense. The participle entry for “propuesto, propuesta” confirms it’s the irregular participle of “proponer.”

Past Participle: Propuesto And Propuesta

Use propuesto (masculine) or propuesta (feminine) when you mean “proposed” as a label for a draft, idea, change, rule, or project. It agrees with the noun it describes.

Matching Gender And Number

Spanish adjectives change to match the noun. Keep it mechanical and you’ll get it right.

• el plan propuesto (the proposed plan)
• la ley propuesta (the proposed law)
• los cambios propuestos (the proposed changes)
• las medidas propuestas (the proposed measures)

Passive-Style Phrasing

English likes passive wording like “was proposed.” Spanish can do it too, yet many writers choose a simpler active sentence when the subject is clear.

• Se propuso una solución. (A solution was proposed.)
• El comité propuso una solución. (The committee proposed a solution.)

When you do use “se propuso…”, you’re focusing on the fact that the idea got put on the table, not on who did it.

Verb Forms Of Proponer That Translate “Proposed”

When “proposed” is an action, Spanish usually uses proponer (to propose, to suggest). You’ll pick the tense that matches the English sentence.

Simple Past: Propuso, Propusieron

Use propuso for “he/she proposed” in a completed past event.

• Ella propuso un cambio en la agenda.
• Ellos propusieron un presupuesto nuevo.

Ongoing Past: Proponía, Proponían

Use proponía for “was proposing” or “used to propose,” when the action was in progress or repeated.

• Yo proponía ideas cada semana.
• Mientras hablábamos, él proponía otra opción.

Present Perfect: Ha Propuesto

Use ha propuesto when English uses “has proposed,” tying a past action to the present moment.

• La empresa ha propuesto un acuerdo.
• El equipo ha propuesto tres cambios.

If you want extra confirmation on tense forms, the Cambridge entry for “proponer” lists common translations, and WordReference conjugation tables give a fast check for irregular forms.

Common Translations For “Proposed” By Meaning

This table is a pick-your-lane map. Find the English sense in column one, then grab the Spanish form that matches what you mean.

English Sense Of “Proposed”	Spanish Option	When It Fits
Suggested an idea	propuso / propusieron	A completed suggestion in the past.
Was suggesting	proponía / proponían	An ongoing or repeated past action.
Has suggested	ha propuesto / han propuesto	Past action linked to the present.
Draft label	propuesto/a(s)	Describes a plan, law, rule, or change.
Formally nominated	proponer a X como…	Putting someone forward for a role.
Offered terms	propuso condiciones / un acuerdo	Deals, contracts, and negotiations.
Marriage proposal	le propuso matrimonio	“Proposed” in a relationship sense.
Suggested a motion	propuso una moción	Meetings, votes, and formal sessions.

Using “Proponer” With People And Roles

English speakers sometimes say “proposed her for the job.” Spanish usually spells out the role: proponer a alguien como + title.

• La junta la propuso como presidenta.
• Lo propusieron como representante del grupo.

In formal writing, you may also see postular or nombrar. Those can shift the meaning toward “to nominate” or “to appoint,” so pick them only when that’s what the English sentence means.

When “Proponer” Isn’t The Best Fit

Spanish speakers use proponer a lot, yet it can sound formal in casual chat. If your English sentence feels light, you may want a lighter Spanish verb.

Sugerir For Soft Suggestions

Sugerir works well when you’re tossing out an idea with no pressure attached. It’s a solid pick for friendly plans, workplace brainstorming, and quick replies.

• Sugirió cenar fuera. (She suggested eating out.)
• ¿Te sugiero un lugar? (Want me to suggest a place?)

Plantear For Framing An Issue

Plantear is common when you’re setting a question or framing a problem. It can map to “proposed” in academic writing, yet it leans toward “raised” or “posed.”

• Planteó una pregunta difícil.
• Plantearon dos opciones.

Ofrecer For Deals And Terms

If “proposed” means “offered,” ofrecer can sound more natural than repeating “propuso” in negotiations.

• Nos ofrecieron nuevas condiciones.
• El proveedor ofreció un descuento.

Here’s a quick way to choose: if your English sentence could swap “proposed” with “suggested,” try sugerir. If it could swap with “offered,” try ofrecer. If it reads like a formal motion or a draft on paper, proponer and propuesto/a usually fit.

When “Proposed” Means A Marriage Proposal

This is where mix-ups get awkward fast. In English, “He proposed” is a full sentence. In Spanish, you’ll normally say what he proposed: marriage.

Natural Ways To Say It

• Él le propuso matrimonio.
• Le pidió matrimonio.
• ¿Quieres casarte conmigo? (the direct question)

Le propuso matrimonio carries the same action as “he proposed.” Le pidió matrimonio sounds a bit more direct, like “he asked her to marry him.” Both are common.

Keeping The “Plan” Sense Separate

If you mean “proposed a plan,” keep a clear object in the sentence.

• Propuso un plan para reducir costos.
• Propuso cambiar el horario.

That one noun or verb phrase after “propuso” keeps the meaning on track.

Academic And Business Uses That Sound Native

In school and work writing, “proposed” shows up in titles, headings, and status updates. Spanish has a few common patterns that feel natural and clear.

Project Titles And Research Topics

If “proposed” is part of a label, propuesto/a is usually the clean fit.

• Modelo propuesto
• Método propuesto
• Enfoque propuesto

Pair it with a short noun and you get a title that reads smoothly in Spanish.

Policy, Legal, And Draft Documents

Writers use proyecto de ley for “bill,” and then add “propuesto/a” when they need to mark it as not yet final.

• el proyecto de ley propuesto
• las enmiendas propuestas

If you’re translating a headline, watch for a better Spanish headline style that drops extra words while keeping meaning.

Quick Conjugation Map For The Forms You’ll Use Most

You don’t need every tense to translate “proposed.” These are the ones that show up again and again in real writing.

English Pattern	Spanish Form	Sample Sentence
He proposed	él propuso	Él propuso una idea.
They proposed	ellos propusieron	Ellos propusieron un cambio.
Was proposing	yo proponía	Yo proponía opciones.
Has proposed	ella ha propuesto	Ella ha propuesto un plan.
Had proposed	había propuesto	Ya había propuesto la idea.
Proposed (draft)	propuesto/a(s)	las reglas propuestas
To propose	proponer	Voy a proponer un cambio.

Mistakes That Make “Proposed” Sound Off In Spanish

A few slips show up a lot when translating from English. Catch them early and your sentence will read clean.

Using “Propuesto” When You Need A Verb

Propuesto describes something. It doesn’t say who did the proposing.

• Off: “Él propuesto un plan.”
• Better: “Él propuso un plan.”

Forgetting Agreement

If the noun is feminine or plural, the adjective has to follow.

• el cambio propuesto
• la medida propuesta
• las medidas propuestas

Dropping The Object In Relationship Sentences

“Propuso” needs a clear object when you don’t mean marriage.

• Clear: “Propuso cambiar el plan.”
• Clear: “Propuso una salida el sábado.”

A Fast Edit Pass Before You Hit Send

If you’ve written a Spanish sentence with “proposed,” run this short pass. It takes seconds and saves you from the main meaning swings.

1. Spot the sense: draft label, past action, ongoing past, nomination, deal, or marriage.
2. Pick the lane: “propuesto/a” for labels, a “proponer” verb form for actions.
3. Check agreement: if you used “propuesto/a(s)”, match the noun.
4. Check tense: “propuso” for finished past, “proponía” for ongoing past, “ha propuesto” for present-linked past.
5. Read it out loud: if it sounds like a label, it should look like one.

Mini Practice Set To Lock It In

Try translating these into Spanish, then compare with the answers. Write them out once and you’ll feel the pattern stick.

• “The proposed changes are expensive.”
• “She proposed a new schedule yesterday.”
• “They have proposed three solutions.”
• “He proposed to her last weekend.”
• “The board proposed him as treasurer.”

Answers

• Los cambios propuestos son caros.
• Ella propuso un horario nuevo ayer.
• Han propuesto tres soluciones.
• Él le propuso matrimonio el fin de semana pasado.
• La junta lo propuso como tesorero.

If you want one rule to carry with you, it’s this: propuesto/a labels a thing, while propuso tells you who made the suggestion.