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Two children together pushing open a set of large, heavy wooden double doors leading to a bright, sunlit garden.

abren

AH-bren

verbA1regular in this tense ir
they open?when talking about other people or things,you all open?when speaking to a group of people formally
Also:they are opening?action happening right now,they unlock?referring to doors or containers

Quick Reference

gerundabriendo
past Participleabierto
infinitiveabrir

📝 In Action

Ellos abren las ventanas por la mañana.

A1

They open the windows in the morning.

¿A qué hora abren las tiendas hoy?

A1

What time do the stores open today?

Ustedes abren el regalo juntos.

A1

You all open the gift together.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • inauguran (they inaugurate/start)
  • destapan (they uncover/un-cap)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • abren camino – they clear the way / they lead the way
  • abren fuego – they open fire
  • abren el apetito – they work up an appetite

Idioms & Expressions

  • abren los ojos a alguien – to make someone realize the truth about something

💡 Grammar Points

Who is doing the action?

Use 'abren' when the people doing the opening are 'they' (ellos/ellas) or 'you all' (ustedes).

One form for two groups

In Spanish, the form for 'they' and the formal 'you all' is exactly the same.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Mixing up 'You' forms

Mistake: "Using 'abren' for a single person (usted)."

Correction: Use 'abre' for one person (usted) and 'abren' for a group of people (ustedes).

⭐ Usage Tips

Talking about Businesses

When you want to ask when a store or bank is 'open,' Spanish speakers usually use the verb action: '¿A qué hora abren?'

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesabrieran
yoabriera
túabrieras
vosotrosabrierais
nosotrosabriéramos
él/ella/ustedabriera

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesabran
yoabra
túabras
vosotrosabráis
nosotrosabramos
él/ella/ustedabra

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesabrieron
yoabrí
túabriste
vosotrosabristeis
nosotrosabrimos
él/ella/ustedabrió

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesabrían
yoabría
túabrías
vosotrosabríais
nosotrosabríamos
él/ella/ustedabría

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesabren
yoabro
túabres
vosotrosabrís
nosotrosabrimos
él/ella/ustedabre
View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: abren

Question 1 of 2

Which group of people is performing the action in the sentence: 'Mis amigos abren el coche'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

abrir(to open) - verb
abierto(open) - adjective
apertura(opening) - noun
abridor(opener (tool)) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'abren' mean 'are open'?

It usually means the action 'they open'. If you want to say something is already in an open state, you would use 'están abiertos'.

Is 'abren' used for both men and women?

Yes, 'abren' stays the same whether you are talking about 'ellos' (men/mixed group) or 'ellas' (women).