explicarvsaclarar
/eks-plee-CAR/
/ah-klah-RAR/
💡 Quick Rule
Explicar is to teach or give details. Aclarar is to untangle a confusion.
Explicar has 'explain' inside it. Aclarar comes from 'claro' (clear).
- No strict exceptions. Explaining something well often has the result of clarifying it, so the line can sometimes blur.
📊 Comparison Table
| Context | explicar | aclarar | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Addressing a group | Voy a explicar el nuevo proyecto. | Voy a aclarar unos puntos del proyecto. | Explicar introduces new information. Aclarar resolves confusion about existing information. |
| Personal conversation | Me explicó sus motivos. | Me aclaró que no estaba enojado. | Explicar is for sharing the whole story/reason. Aclarar is for fixing a specific wrong impression. |
| Responding to a question | ¿Puedes explicar la teoría de nuevo? | ¿Puedes aclarar este último punto? | Use explicar for a full breakdown. Use aclarar to focus on one specific point of confusion. |
✅ When to Use "explicar" / aclarar
explicar
To explain; to make something understandable by giving details, reasons, or instructions.
/eks-plee-CAR/
Teaching a concept
El profesor explica la lección.
The teacher explains the lesson.
Giving reasons or motives
Me explicó por qué llegó tarde.
He explained to me why he arrived late.
Describing how something works
¿Puedes explicarme cómo funciona la máquina?
Can you explain to me how the machine works?
aclarar
To clarify; to make something clearer, resolve a doubt, or correct a misunderstanding.
/ah-klah-RAR/
Resolving a misunderstanding
Quiero aclarar que todo fue un malentendido.
I want to clarify that it was all a misunderstanding.
Answering a specific doubt
Gracias por aclarar mi duda sobre el horario.
Thanks for clearing up my doubt about the schedule.
Making something less ambiguous
Necesitamos aclarar los términos del contrato.
We need to clarify the terms of the contract.
🔄 Contrast Examples
With "explicar":
El jefe nos explicó la nueva política.
The boss explained the new policy to us. (He presented all the details from start to finish.)
With "aclarar":
El jefe nos aclaró la nueva política.
The boss clarified the new policy for us. (He answered our questions and resolved confusion about it.)
The Difference: Explicar is about presenting the information. Aclarar is about fixing the confusion *after* the information has been presented.
With "explicar":
Me explicó por qué estaba tan serio.
He explained to me why he was so serious. (He gave me the full reason/story.)
With "aclarar":
Me aclaró que no estaba enojado conmigo.
He clarified that he wasn't mad at me. (He addressed my specific fear or misunderstanding.)
The Difference: Explicar provides the whole story. Aclarar targets and corrects a specific wrong idea.
🎨 Visual Comparison
Explicar is like teaching a new topic. Aclarar is like untangling a confusing knot.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
Necesito que me aclares cómo usar el programa.
Necesito que me expliques cómo usar el programa.
When you need instructions for the first time, you need an 'explanation' (explicar). If you already had instructions but one part was confusing, you'd ask someone to 'clarify' (aclarar) that part.
El guía nos aclaró la historia de la ciudad.
El guía nos explicó la historia de la ciudad.
The guide is teaching or presenting the history, which is 'explicar'. 'Aclarar' would imply they were correcting a previous misconception you had about the history.
📚 Related Grammar
Want to understand the grammar behind this pair? Explore these lessons for a deep dive:
🏷️ Key Words
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: Explicar vs Aclarar
Question 1 of 2
If you're teaching a friend how to play a new board game, you would...
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use 'explicar' to clear up a doubt?
Yes, you can. Explaining something in more detail can certainly clear up a doubt. The difference is focus: 'aclarar una duda' focuses on resolving the confusion, while 'explicar algo' focuses on providing the detailed information that will resolve it. 'Aclarar' is more direct for that specific purpose.
Does 'aclarar' have other meanings?
Yes, its original meaning is literal: to make something clear or light. You can say 'El día se está aclarando' (The day is clearing up/getting lighter) or 'Voy a aclarar el café con un poco de leche' (I'm going to lighten the coffee with a bit of milk).