atraer
/ah-trah-EHR/
attract
The physical pull of the magnet illustrates how atraer means to attract or pull something toward itself.
atraer(verb)
attract
?physical pull, like gravity or magnetism
,draw
?pull or move towards
pull in
?to gather or draw close
📝 In Action
Los imanes siempre atraen el metal.
A2Magnets always attract metal.
La gravedad de la Tierra atrae a la Luna.
B1The Earth's gravity draws the Moon in.
💡 Grammar Points
The Irregular 'G' Sound
Notice how 'atraer' adds a 'g' sound in the 'yo' form of the present tense ('atraigo') and in the entire present subjunctive ('atraiga'). This is the same pattern as 'traer' (to bring) and 'caer' (to fall).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the 'G'
Mistake: "Yo atrao (instead of atraigo)"
Correction: Always remember the added 'g' in the first person singular ('yo') of the present indicative and present subjunctive for verbs ending in -traer or -caer.
⭐ Usage Tips
Using the Past Tense
The simple past tense (preterite) is also irregular, changing the stem to 'atraj-'. Memorize 'atraje' (I attracted) as a key starter.
The irresistible allure of the toy shows how atraer can mean to appeal to or draw interest.
atraer(verb)
appeal to
?to be interesting or desirable
,lure
?to tempt or entice
charm
?to fascinate someone
,seduce
?to persuade or win over
📝 In Action
Su carisma atrae a mucha gente.
B1His charisma appeals to many people.
La nueva tienda atrajo a miles de compradores.
B2The new store lured in thousands of shoppers.
Esa profesión no me atrae en absoluto.
C1That profession doesn't interest me at all.
💡 Grammar Points
Figurative Use
When used figuratively, 'atraer' works like 'gustar' (to like) in reverse. The thing that appeals to you is the one doing the 'attracting.' Example: 'El libro me atrae' (The book attracts me/I'm interested in the book).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Traer' and 'Atraer'
Mistake: "Using 'traer' when you mean 'attract interest.'"
Correction: 'Traer' means 'to bring.' If you want to talk about appeal or charm, you must use 'atraer.' Example: 'La música atrae a los jóvenes' (The music appeals to young people).
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal vs. Informal
'Atraer' is a good, formal verb for marketing or business contexts (e.g., attracting capital), but works equally well in casual conversation (e.g., 'Esa persona me atrae' - I'm attracted to that person).
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: atraer
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses the irregular 'yo' form of 'atraer' in the present tense?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'atraer' have so many irregularities, especially in the past tense?
'Atraer' is irregular because it is built directly from the irregular verb 'traer' (to bring). This means it shares all the quirks, especially the 'g' in the present tense ('atraigo') and the 'j' in the simple past tense ('atraje').
Does 'atraer' always need a direct object?
Yes, 'atraer' is a verb that describes an action happening to something or someone. You must state what is being attracted (e.g., 'atraer clientes' - attract customers) or what is attracting you (e.g., 'me atrae el arte' - the art attracts me).