dominar
/doh-mee-NAHR/
to master
Dominar can mean to master a skill, like playing an instrument with ease.
dominar(verb)
to master
?a skill or language
to be fluent in
?speaking a language
,to have a command of
?knowledge or technique
📝 In Action
Ella domina el inglés y el francés a la perfección.
B1She masters English and French perfectly.
Me tomó años dominar la técnica de la pintura al óleo.
B2It took me years to master the oil painting technique.
💡 Grammar Points
Mastering regular verbs
Dominar is a regular -ar verb, meaning it follows the exact same pattern as 'hablar' or 'cantar' in all time frames.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Dominar vs. Saber
Mistake: "Using 'saber' when you mean you are an expert."
Correction: Use 'dominar' to show high proficiency. 'Sé español' means 'I know Spanish,' but 'Domino el español' means 'I am a master of Spanish.'
⭐ Usage Tips
Resume Tip
Use 'domino' on your CV when describing software or languages you are highly skilled in.
Dominar also refers to controlling one's emotions or staying calm in a situation.
dominar(verb)
to control
?emotions or a situation
,to dominate
?an opponent or territory
to suppress
?impulses
📝 In Action
Tienes que aprender a dominar tus nervios.
B2You have to learn to control your nerves.
El equipo local dominó el partido desde el principio.
B1The home team dominated the match from the beginning.
💡 Grammar Points
Reflexive use for self-control
When you want to say 'to control oneself,' you add 'se' to the end: 'dominarse'. For example, 'No pudo dominarse' (He couldn't control himself).
⭐ Usage Tips
Sports context
In sports, 'dominar' is frequently used to describe a team that has the ball most of the time or is clearly better than the opponent.
Dominar can describe a high place that overlooks a beautiful view.
📝 In Action
El castillo domina todo el valle.
C1The castle overlooks the entire valley.
⭐ Usage Tips
Visualizing height
Think of this meaning as someone standing on a high point 'mastering' the view below with their eyes.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: dominar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence means 'She is fluent in Italian'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'dominar' always sound aggressive?
Not at all! While it can mean 'to dominate' in a power sense, it is most frequently used positively to describe someone who is very talented or skilled at something.
Is it a regular verb?
Yes! It follows all the standard rules for verbs ending in -ar, making it very easy to conjugate.