abrir
“abrir” means “to open” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
to open
Also: to unlock
📝 In Action
Por favor, abre la puerta para que entre el perro.
A1Please, open the door so the dog can come in.
Ella siempre abre su libro de texto antes de la clase.
A1She always opens her textbook before class.
to start, to launch
Also: to inaugurate
📝 In Action
Van a abrir una nueva tienda de café en mi barrio.
B1They are going to open a new coffee shop in my neighborhood.
El presidente abrió el debate con una declaración.
B2The president opened (started) the debate with a declaration.
to open up, to be receptive
Also: to express oneself
📝 In Action
Me costó mucho abrirme con el psicólogo.
B2It was very hard for me to open up (confide) to the psychologist.
Tienes que abrirte a nuevas posibilidades en tu carrera.
C1You have to open yourself up to new possibilities in your career.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: abrir
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'abrir' in its figurative sense (to start or launch)?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb *aperire*, which also meant 'to open.' Its root is related to the idea of removing a cover or barrier. This gave rise to the irregular past participle 'abierto' (open), which is a common pattern in Spanish verbs that came directly from Latin.
First recorded: Before 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'abrir' a regular or irregular verb?
'Abrir' is regular in almost all of its conjugations (it follows the standard pattern for -ir verbs). However, its past participle—the form used in compound tenses or as an adjective—is irregular: 'abierto,' not 'abrido'.
How do I say 'I opened the door' vs. 'I have opened the door'?
'I opened the door' (simple past) is 'Abrí la puerta'. 'I have opened the door' (compound past) uses the irregular participle: 'He abierto la puerta'.