embarcar
“embarcar” means “to board” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to board
Also: to ship, to embark
📝 In Action
Los pasajeros deben embarcar por la puerta cuatro.
A2Passengers must board through gate four.
Empezaremos a embarcar el equipaje en diez minutos.
B1We will start loading the luggage in ten minutes.
El capitán dio la orden de embarcar inmediatamente.
B2The captain gave the order to board immediately.
to involve
Also: to rope into
📝 In Action
Mi hermano me embarcó en este negocio y ahora no sé qué hacer.
B2My brother roped me into this business and now I don't know what to do.
No me quieras embarcar en tus problemas.
C1Don't try to involve me in your problems.
Se embarcaron en una aventura muy peligrosa.
B2They embarked on a very dangerous adventure.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: embarcar
Question 1 of 3
Which is the correct 'yo' form of 'embarcar' in the past (Preterite)?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Spanish word 'barca' (small boat). It combines 'en-' (in/into) + 'barca' + the verb ending '-ar', literally meaning 'to put into a boat'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use 'embarcar' for a bus?
Not usually. For a bus, car, or bike, use 'subir'. 'Embarcar' is reserved for planes, ships, and sometimes large trains.
Is 'embarcar' regular?
Almost! It is regular in its endings, but it has a spelling change (c to qu) in the 'yo' form of the past and all present subjunctive forms to keep the pronunciation consistent.
What is a 'tarjeta de embarque'?
It's your boarding pass—the document that allows you to get onto your plane or ship.