abre
“abre” means “he/she opens” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
he/she opens
Also: it opens, you open
📝 In Action
Mi papá siempre abre las ventanas por la mañana.
A1My dad always opens the windows in the morning.
La biblioteca abre a las diez.
A1The library opens at ten.
¿Usted abre la puerta principal o la del jardín?
A2Do you (formal) open the main door or the garden door?
open
📝 In Action
¡Abre la caja! Quiero ver qué hay dentro.
A1Open the box! I want to see what's inside.
Por favor, abre el libro en la página veinte.
A1Please, open the book to page twenty.
Abre bien los ojos y mira.
A2Open your eyes wide and look.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: abre
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence is giving a friendly command?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin word 'aperīre', which means 'to open' or 'to uncover'. It has kept a very similar meaning for thousands of years.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'abre' mean both 'he opens' and 'open!' as a command?
It's a cool feature of Spanish! Many verb forms do double duty. For the verb 'abrir', the form for 'él/ella/usted' in the present ('he/she/you open') happens to be the exact same as the command form for 'tú' (you, informal). You can tell which is which from the context of the sentence.
What is the difference between 'abre' and 'abra'?
Great question! 'Abre' is the friendly, informal command you give to one person (tú). 'Abra' is the more polite, formal command you give to one person (usted). 'Abra' is also used for other things, like expressing wishes, but for commands, think: 'abre' for a friend, 'abra' for a boss.