Hello Aaron!
Well in general is the same thing, both means "find", but...
-Encontrar is the best and correctly way to speak, I think sounds more polite
- Hallar is kind of informal.
I hope this works for you! Good day!
"Hallarse" is also identified with "encontrarse", both reflexive verbs with the meaning of " to be in one place".
All the best,
Jorge
Hi,
I will start with the dictionary entries, from "Esencial. Diccionario de Lengua espan~ol" ISBN 978-84-9974-033-1.
Hallar: 1 encontrar una cosa o a una persona que se esta` buscando. 2 - Descburir o inventar una cosa. 3 Observar o notar una cosa 4 Estar o encontrarse una persona en un lugar o en una situación.
Encontrar 1 Dar con una persona o cosa que se buscaba. 2 Dar con una persona o cosa que se no buscaba. 3 Pensar o considerar. 4 Notar una cualidad o circunstancia con los sentidos o con la mente. 5 Sentirse de determinada manera. 6 Reunirse en un mismo lugar. 7 Estar en un lugar determinado.
I am out of practice with speaking Spanish, but I think of Encontrar as to 'encounter' and it has to do with meeting people or situations.
Hallar means more of 'to find' or to discover. Not meeting a person.
Like in English, a different word for a different shade of meaning, one for 'meeting up with' and another for 'discover', even though they can both be translated as "to find'.
I hope this helps.
