abre
/AH-breh/
he/she opens
Abre means 'he/she opens' or 'it opens.' Here, a woman opens a window.
abre(Verb)
he/she opens
?Describing a present action
it opens
?Referring to an object or place, like a store or a door
,you open
?The polite/formal way to address someone ('usted')
📝 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?
💡 Grammar Points
Who is 'abre' for?
This form of the verb is used for a single person or thing that isn't you or me. Think 'he', 'she', 'it', or the formal 'you' (usted). For example: 'El niño abre el regalo' (The boy opens the gift).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up 'abre' and 'abro'
Mistake: "Yo abre la ventana."
Correction: Say 'Yo abro la ventana.' The '-o' ending is your clue that 'I' am doing the action.
⭐ Usage Tips
Things That Open Themselves
You can use 'abre' for things that open on their own schedule, like a store or a flower. For example, 'La flor abre por la mañana' (The flower opens in the morning).
Abre is also the informal command 'open!' used when talking to a friend (tú).
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Giving Friendly Commands
'Abre' is how you tell one person you know well (someone you call 'tú') to open something. It's a direct, simple command. For example: 'Abre la puerta, por favor' (Open the door, please).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Polite vs. Friendly Commands
Mistake: "Using 'abre' with a stranger or someone older you want to show respect to."
Correction: For formal situations (usted), use 'abra'. So, to your boss, you'd say 'Abra el documento' not 'Abre el documento'.
⭐ Usage Tips
It's All in the Tone
Like in English, your tone of voice makes a big difference. '¡Abre!' can sound demanding, while 'Abre, por favor' is much softer and more polite.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: abre
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence is giving a friendly command?
📚 More Resources
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.