descubrir

dess-koo-BREERdeskuˈβɾiɾ

“descubrir” means “to discover” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:

to discover🔊A2Verb

finding something for the first time

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to invent🔊B1Verb

creating something new (often used historically)

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to uncover🔊B2Verb

removing a physical covering

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to discover, to find out

Also: to detect

VerbA2regular (-ir) with an irregular past participle ir

A child smiling after finding a glowing treasure chest partially buried on a beach.

past Participledescubierto (Irregular)

infinitivedescubrir

gerunddescubriendo

📝 In Action

Descubrimos un restaurante increíble en el centro.

We discovered an incredible restaurant downtown.

¿Cuándo descubriste que te gustaba la música clásica?

When did you find out that you liked classical music?

Ella descubrió la verdad sobre el robo.

She discovered (found out) the truth about the robbery.

Word Connections

Synonyms

encontrar (to find)
averiguar (to investigate / to find out)

Antonyms

ocultar (to hide)
ignorar (to ignore / not to know)

Common Collocations

descubrir la pólvora – to discover gunpowder (used figuratively, see idioms)
descubrir un tesoro – to discover a treasure

Idioms & Expressions

No descubrir la pólvora – To state something obvious or already known (literally: not to discover gunpowder)

to invent, to make a breakthrough

VerbB1transitive irneutral/formal

A smiling scientist holding up a newly invented wooden wheel and axle.

📝 In Action

Marie Curie descubrió el radio y el polonio.

Marie Curie discovered (invented/identified) radium and polonium.

Los científicos creen que pronto descubrirán la cura.

Scientists believe they will soon discover the cure.

Word Connections

Synonyms

inventar (to invent)
hallar (to find / to locate)

to uncover, to reveal

Also: to expose

VerbB2transitive or reflexive ir

A hand lifting a blue cloth to reveal a red apple underneath.

📝 In Action

El presidente descubrió la placa conmemorativa.

The president uncovered (revealed) the commemorative plaque.

Cuando entró a la casa, se descubrió la cabeza.

When he entered the house, he uncovered his head (took off his hat).

La investigación descubrió su fraude.

The investigation exposed his fraud.

Word Connections

Synonyms

destapar (to uncap / to uncover)
revelar (to reveal)

Antonyms

tapar (to cover)
esconder (to hide)

Subjunctive

Imperfect Subjunctive

yodescubriera

túdescubrieras

él/ella/usteddescubriera

nosotrosdescubriéramos

vosotrosdescubrierais

ellos/ellas/ustedesdescubrieran

Present Subjunctive

yodescubra

túdescubras

él/ella/usteddescubra

nosotrosdescubramos

vosotrosdescubráis

ellos/ellas/ustedesdescubran

Indicative

Preterite

yodescubrí

túdescubriste

él/ella/usteddescubrió

nosotrosdescubrimos

vosotrosdescubristeis

ellos/ellas/ustedesdescubrieron

Imperfect

yodescubría

túdescubrías

él/ella/usteddescubría

nosotrosdescubríamos

vosotrosdescubríais

ellos/ellas/ustedesdescubrían

Present

yodescubro

túdescubres

él/ella/usteddescubre

nosotrosdescubrimos

vosotrosdescubrís

ellos/ellas/ustedesdescubren

View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "descubrir" in Spanish:

to detect→to discover→to expose→to invent→to reveal→to uncover→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: descubrir

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'descubrir' in the sense of 'to uncover/reveal' (Definition 3)?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼

descubrimiento(discovery) — Noun

descubridor(discoverer) — Noun

🎵 Rhymes▼

vivir escribir

📚 Etymology▼

The word comes from the Latin verb *discooperīre*, which literally meant 'to un-cover.' It is formed by combining the prefix *dis-* (meaning reversal or undoing) and *cooperīre* (meaning to cover). This origin perfectly explains both the physical meaning ('to uncover') and the figurative meaning ('to find out').

First recorded: Medieval Spanish

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: descobrirFrench: découvrir

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'descubrir' the best word to use when I mean 'to invent' something new?

It depends. 'Descubrir' is perfect for major scientific or geographical findings (like discovering a new planet or element). If you are talking about creating a new gadget or machine, 'inventar' is usually a more precise word.

How do I say 'I discovered' in the past?

You have two main choices: the simple past ('Yo descubrí') if the action finished completely in the past, or the compound tense ('Yo he descubierto') if the discovery is still relevant now or happened recently.