Moverse vs. mudarse
In Spanish, both moverse and mudarse can be translated as to move, but they describe very different actions. Moverse refers to physical movement in a general sense, while mudarse specifically means to change one's place of residence or to change clothes.
Moverse
A1Moverse is the general verb for to move. It describes any physical change in the position of a person, an object, or a part of the body. Think of it as movement in general.
Los niños no paran de moverse durante la película.
(The children don't stop moving during the movie.)
Si no te mueves, no puedo ver la pantalla.
(If you don't move, I can't see the screen.)
Me duele la espalda y apenas puedo moverme.
(My back hurts and I can barely move.)
La tierra se movió durante el terremoto.
(The earth moved during the earthquake.)
¡Muévete! Vamos a llegar tarde.
(Get a move on! We are going to be late.)
Las hojas de los árboles se mueven con el viento.
(The leaves on the trees move with the wind.)
Mudarse
A2Mudarse is a specific verb that means to relocate or move house. It is used when someone changes their home or office. It can also mean to change clothes.
Nos vamos a mudar a Barcelona el próximo año.
(We are going to move to Barcelona next year.)
Mi hermano se mudó de casa la semana pasada.
(My brother moved house last week.)
¿Estás feliz desde que te mudaste a este apartamento?
(Are you happy since you moved to this apartment?)
La empresa se mudó a un edificio más grande.
(The company moved to a bigger building.)
Tengo que mudarme de ropa porque estoy mojado.
(I have to change my clothes because I am wet.)
Antes de salir, voy a mudarme la camisa.
(Before leaving, I'm going to change my shirt.)
Summary
In summary, use moverse for any general physical movement (shifting, dancing, hurrying up). Use mudarse specifically when you talk about changing your home or office location, or when you are changing your clothes. You mueves your body, but you mudas your house.