ampliar
“ampliar” means “to enlarge” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to enlarge, to expand
Also: to zoom in
📝 In Action
Queremos ampliar la cocina el próximo año.
A2We want to enlarge the kitchen next year.
He ampliado esta foto para ver mejor los detalles.
B1I have enlarged this photo to see the details better.
La empresa quiere ampliar su mercado a otros países.
B2The company wants to expand its market to other countries.
to elaborate, to expand on
📝 In Action
¿Podría ampliar su respuesta?
B1Could you elaborate on your answer?
El director amplió los detalles del nuevo proyecto.
B2The director expanded on the details of the new project.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: ampliar
Question 1 of 3
How do you say 'I enlarge' in the present tense?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'ampliare', which means to make wider or larger. It is closely related to the Latin 'amplus', which gave us the English word 'ample'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'ampliar' and 'aumentar'?
'Ampliar' is usually about making something bigger in size or scope (like a house or knowledge), while 'aumentar' is usually about quantity or intensity (like increasing prices or speed).
Does 'ampliar' always have an accent on the 'i'?
No. It only has an accent when that syllable is stressed, such as in 'amplío' or 'amplía'. In forms like 'ampliamos' or 'ampliar', the stress is elsewhere, so no accent is needed.
Can I use 'ampliar' for a digital photo?
Yes! It is the standard word for enlarging a physical photo or zooming in on a digital one.