dispara
/dees-PAH-rah/
fires
When someone "dispara" (fires) a weapon or object.
dispara(Verb)
fires
?He/She/It fires a weapon or object.
,shoots
?He/She/It shoots.
shoot!
?Informal command (tú form)
,is firing
?Continuous action
📝 In Action
El policía dispara al aire para asustar a los ladrones.
A2The police officer fires into the air to scare the thieves.
¡Dispara! ¡No te quedes esperando!
B1Shoot! Don't just stand there waiting!
Ella dispara la pelota con mucha fuerza.
A2She shoots the ball with great force.
💡 Grammar Points
Present Tense Action
In this form, 'dispara' means 'he/she/it shoots' or 'you (formal) shoot.' It describes an action happening now or a habitual action.
Informal Command
When used as a command to a friend ('tú'), '¡Dispara!' means 'Shoot!' or 'Fire!'. This is the exact same form as the 'él/ella' present tense.
⭐ Usage Tips
Beyond Weapons
While often used for guns, 'disparar' is also used for shooting sports (like archery) or even forcefully kicking a ball in soccer.
"Dispara" can mean to trigger a mechanism or reaction.
dispara(Verb)
triggers
?Causes a reaction or mechanism to start.
,sets off
?Activates an alarm or device.
provokes
?Causes an emotional or verbal reaction.
📝 In Action
La caída de tensión dispara la alarma de seguridad.
B1The voltage drop triggers the security alarm.
Ese recuerdo le dispara una gran tristeza.
B2That memory triggers deep sadness in him.
El sensor dispara la cámara cuando detecta movimiento.
B1The sensor activates the camera when it detects movement.
💡 Grammar Points
Mechanism Use
In this context, the subject is often an inanimate object (like 'sensor' or 'memory') that initiates an action automatically.
When a cost "dispara" (skyrockets), it means the price increases rapidly.
dispara(Verb)
skyrockets
?Prices or costs increase very quickly.
,spikes
?A sudden, sharp increase.
soars
?To rise dramatically.
📝 In Action
La escasez de alimentos dispara los precios en el mercado.
B2The scarcity of food skyrockets prices in the market.
La nueva tecnología dispara la productividad de la empresa.
C1The new technology dramatically increases the company's productivity.
💡 Grammar Points
Figurative Use
Think of this as 'shooting' upward—it describes a rapid, forceful movement, usually related to numbers or values.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: dispara
Question 1 of 2
Which English phrase best translates 'La noticia dispara muchas preguntas'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'dispara' is a command or a statement?
You can usually tell by the context and punctuation. If it's a statement, it will have a subject (like 'él' or 'la demanda'): 'El hombre dispara.' If it's a command, it often stands alone and may have exclamation marks: '¡Dispara!'
Is 'disparar' only used for guns?
No. While it's most literally used for guns, it's very common for triggering sensors, cameras, alarms, or for describing sudden, forceful increases in prices or reactions.