aislar
“aislar” means “to isolate” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to isolate
Also: to quarantine, to set apart
📝 In Action
Tuvieron que aislar al paciente para evitar contagios.
B1They had to isolate the patient to prevent infections.
Es difícil aislar una sola variable en este experimento.
B2It is difficult to isolate a single variable in this experiment.
A veces me gusta aislarme del ruido de la ciudad.
A2Sometimes I like to isolate myself from the noise of the city.
to insulate, to soundproof
📝 In Action
Necesitamos aislar las ventanas para el invierno.
B1We need to insulate the windows for the winter.
Este material sirve para aislar el ruido exterior.
B2This material is used to soundproof external noise.
Aísla bien los cables para evitar un cortocircuito.
C1Insulate the cables well to avoid a short circuit.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: aislar
Question 1 of 3
Which form of 'aislar' is correct for 'I isolate'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'insulare,' which means 'to make into an island.' It comes from 'insula,' the Latin word for island.
First recorded: 17th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'aislar' always mean being alone?
Not necessarily. While it can mean social isolation, it is also the technical term for soundproofing a room or insulating electrical wires.
How do I remember when to use the accent mark?
The accent appears on the 'i' in all 'boot' forms (yo, tú, él/ella, ellos) in the present tense because those are the forms where the stress naturally falls on that syllable.
What is the difference between 'separar' and 'aislar'?
'Separar' is general (like separating laundry). 'Aislar' is more intense; it implies complete disconnection or creating a barrier.