Quick answer
Aumentar measures an increase and can take a direct object. Crescer presents growth as a process.
A reliable test is to identify the job of the word before translating from English.
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What each word does
aumentar
to increase or enlarge
Use aumentar for making or becoming greater in number, price, volume, intensity, or size.
crescer
to grow
Use crescer for natural development in size, age, economy, skill, or importance.
How to choose
- aumentar: Choose aumentar if the sentence points to making or becoming greater in number, price, volume, intensity, or size.
- crescer: Choose crescer if the sentence points to natural development in size, age, economy, skill, or importance.
Examples
A loja aumentou os preços.
The store increased its prices.
A cidade cresceu muito.
The city grew a lot.
Common trap
The store can aumentar os preços, but the prices themselves aumentam. Crescer normally does not take the thing grown as a direct object.
Practice it in context
Pick one sentence from your real life and write it twice: once with aumentar, then once with crescer. If both versions feel possible, name the meaning shift.
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