atrae
“atrae” means “attracts” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
attracts, draws
Also: pulls, appeals
📝 In Action
El Sol atrae a la Tierra con su gravedad.
A2The Sun attracts the Earth with its gravity.
¿Qué atrae a los turistas a esta ciudad?
B1What attracts tourists to this city?
Usted atrae la atención de todos cuando habla.
A2You (formal) attract everyone's attention when you speak.
entices, seduces
Also: brings about
📝 In Action
La nueva ley atrae inversión extranjera al país.
B2The new law attracts/entices foreign investment to the country.
Su misterio atrae a sus fans.
B1His mystery appeals to his fans.
Indicative
Preterite
Present
Imperfect
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: atrae
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'atrae' in its figurative sense?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The verb 'atraer' comes from the Latin verb *attrahere*, which is formed by combining *ad-* (meaning 'to' or 'toward') and *trahere* (meaning 'to pull' or 'to drag'). So, the word literally means 'to pull toward.'
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'atrae' a regular or irregular verb?
'Atraer' is mostly regular in the present tense, but it is irregular in the 'yo' form ('atraigo') and in the past tense (preterite: 'atrajo'). You must learn these irregular forms to use it correctly in all contexts.
What is the difference between 'atrae' and 'atraigo'?
'Atrae' means 'he, she, it, or formal you' attracts. 'Atraigo' means 'I' attract. They are both the present tense, but they refer to different people doing the action.