"Cometer" is a verb that means to perform or carry out an action, often with a negative connotation, such as committing a crime or mistake. It is frequently used in various contexts, including law (committing an offense), daily speech (making an error), and even in commercial language when referring to a breach of duty. The frequency of use is moderate to high, and it is prevalent in both oral speech and written contexts.
"No debí cometer ese error en el examen."
"I shouldn’t have committed that mistake on the exam."
"El ladrón cometió varios delitos antes de ser atrapado."
"The thief committed several crimes before being caught."
"Cometer una falta grave puede tener consecuencias legales."
"Committing a serious offense can have legal consequences."
The verb "cometer" appears in a number of idiomatic expressions in Spanish, often underlining the act of committing various actions.
Cometer un error.
"To make a mistake."
Example: "Cometí un error al no enviar el informe a tiempo."
"I made a mistake by not sending the report on time."
Cometer un pecado.
"To commit a sin."
Example: "Cometer un pecado es parte de la naturaleza humana."
"Committing a sin is part of human nature."
Cometer suicidio.
"To commit suicide."
Example: "Es trágico pensar que algunas personas sienten que solo pueden cometer suicidio."
"It's tragic to think that some people feel that they can only commit suicide."
Cometer un atropello.
"To commit an infringement."
Example: "El conductor cometió un atropello al no parar en la señal de alto."
"The driver committed an infringement by not stopping at the stop sign."
The word "cometer" is derived from the Latin "cometere," which means "to bring together, to join, or to gather." Over time, it evolved in the Spanish language to specifically denote the act of carrying out or committing certain actions, particularly those that are negative or carry legal implications.