admirar
“admirar” means “to admire” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to admire
Also: to gaze at
📝 In Action
Me gusta admirar el paisaje desde la montaña.
A2I like to admire the landscape from the mountain.
Pasamos horas admirando las pinturas en el museo.
B1We spent hours gazing at the paintings in the museum.
Es imposible no admirar la arquitectura de esta ciudad.
B1It is impossible not to admire the architecture of this city.
to respect
Also: to look up to
📝 In Action
Admiro mucho a mi hermano por su valentía.
B1I admire my brother a lot for his bravery.
Es un científico muy admirado en todo el mundo.
B2He is a very admired scientist all over the world.
Muchos jóvenes admiran a ese deportista.
B1Many young people look up to that athlete.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: admirar
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence correctly uses the 'personal a'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'admirari', which combined 'ad' (at) and 'mirari' (to wonder). It literally meant 'to wonder at something'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'admirar' a reflexive verb?
It can be! 'Admirarse' exists and usually means to be surprised or amazed by something.
Can I use 'admirar' for objects?
Yes, you can admire objects (like a painting) or abstract things (like someone's intelligence).
What is the difference between 'admirar' and 'contemplar'?
'Contemplar' is more about the physical act of looking deeply at something, while 'admirar' adds the feeling of appreciation or wonder.