A young child is sitting at a simple wooden table, deeply engrossed and focused on carefully stacking colorful wooden blocks to build a tall, balanced tower.

concéntrate

kohn-SEHN-trah-teh

Verb (Command Form)A2pronominal/reflexive ar

Concentrate!?Informal command,Focus!?Informal command

Also:Pay attention!?When someone is distracted

Quick Reference

infinitiveconcentrarse

gerundconcentrándose

past Participleconcentrado

📝 In Action

¡Concéntrate! No podemos perder más tiempo.

Concentrate! We can't waste any more time.

Si quieres entender el problema, concéntrate en los detalles.

If you want to understand the problem, focus on the details.

Antes de empezar el examen, respira profundo y concéntrate.

Before starting the exam, breathe deeply and concentrate.

Word Connections

Synonyms

enfócate (focus (informal command))
atiende (pay attention)

Antonyms

distráete (get distracted (informal command))

Common Collocations

concéntrate en tu trabajo – concentrate on your work
concéntrate en el objetivo – focus on the goal

💡 Grammar Points

The Glued-on 'te'

This word is the informal command ('tú') of the verb 'concentrarse.' The little word 'te' (meaning 'yourself') is glued directly onto the end of the verb.

The Mandatory Accent Mark

When you attach a pronoun like 'te' to a short command, the natural stress of the word moves. Spanish must add an accent mark (the tilde) over the 'e' to show you exactly where to put the emphasis: con-CÉN-tra-te.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting the Accent

Mistake: "concentrate"

Correction: concéntrate. Without the accent, the word would sound like 'con-cen-TRA-teh,' which is incorrect.

Using the Formal Form

Mistake: "concéntrate (when speaking to your boss)"

Correction: Use 'concéntrese' (the formal 'usted' command) when speaking to someone you should show respect to.

⭐ Usage Tips

Using the Negative Command

If you want to tell someone NOT to concentrate, the structure changes: the 'te' moves back to the front, separate from the verb. Say: 'No te concentres'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: concéntrate

Question 1 of 2

Which of these is the correct formal command (Usted) for 'Concentrate!'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

concentrarse(to concentrate oneself (infinitive)) - verb

concentración(concentration/focus) - noun

concentrado(concentrated (adjective)) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'concéntrate' always used when telling someone to focus?

It is used when speaking to a single person informally (a friend, relative, or child). If you are speaking to a group, you must use 'concéntrense' (or 'concentraos' in Spain). If you are speaking formally (to a boss or stranger), use 'concéntrese'.

What is the difference between 'concéntrate' and 'concentra'?

'Concentra' is the simple command 'concentrate' (used for things like concentrating juice). 'Concéntrate' is the reflexive command, meaning 'concentrate yourself' or 'focus your mind.' When talking about focusing your attention, you almost always need the reflexive form, 'concéntrate'.