continuar
“continuar” means “to continue” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to continue, to carry on
Also: to keep (doing something)
📝 In Action
Debemos continuar trabajando en este proyecto hasta terminar.
A2We must continue working on this project until we finish.
Ella continuó leyendo el libro sin hacer una pausa.
A1She carried on reading the book without taking a break.
¿Puedes continuar con la presentación mientras vuelvo?
B1Can you continue with the presentation while I return?
to last, to extend
Also: to stretch
📝 In Action
La carretera continúa por muchos kilómetros más.
B1The highway extends for many more kilometers.
Las negociaciones continuaron durante toda la noche.
B2The negotiations lasted (continued) throughout the entire night.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
🔀 Commonly Confused With
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: continuar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'continuar' to mean 'to extend in space'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin word *continuāre*, which meant 'to join together' or 'to make things follow one after the other'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'continuar' and 'seguir'?
Both mean 'to continue' or 'to keep doing something'. 'Seguir' is generally more common and casual, especially when followed by the '-ndo' form (gerund): 'Sigo trabajando' (I keep working). 'Continuar' is slightly more formal but interchangeable in most contexts.
Does 'continuar' always require an accent mark?
No, only in the present tense conjugations where the stress falls on the 'u' (like 'yo continúo' or 'tú continúas'). In the 'we' form (continuamos) and in the past tenses (continué, continuaba), the accent is not needed.