entrar
“entrar” means “to enter” in Spanish. It has 4 different meanings depending on context:
to enter, to go in, to come in
Also: to get in
📝 In Action
Por favor, entra y siéntate.
A1Please, come in and sit down.
Los estudiantes entran en la clase a las ocho.
A1The students enter the classroom at eight.
¿Podemos entrar por la puerta de atrás?
A2Can we go in through the back door?
to join, to start
Also: to get into, to begin
📝 In Action
Mi hijo entra en la universidad el próximo año.
A2My son starts university next year.
Entré a trabajar aquí hace dos meses.
B1I started working here two months ago.
El equipo entró en la competición con mucha energía.
B1The team entered the competition with a lot of energy.
to fit
Also: to go in
📝 In Action
El sofá no entra por la puerta.
B1The sofa doesn't fit through the door.
Esta llave no entra en la cerradura.
B1This key doesn't go in the lock.
¿Crees que toda la ropa entrará en una sola maleta?
B2Do you think all the clothes will fit in just one suitcase?
to be seized by, to be overcome with
Also: to suddenly feel, to get
📝 In Action
Cuando vi la araña, me entró un miedo terrible.
B2When I saw the spider, I was seized by a terrible fear.
Después de comer, siempre me entra sueño.
B1After eating, I always get sleepy.
De repente, le entraron ganas de llorar.
B2Suddenly, she felt the urge to cry.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: entrar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence best translates to 'The pants don't fit me anymore'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'intrāre', which means 'to go into' or 'to enter'. It's a very direct descendant and has kept its core meaning for thousands of years.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the real difference between 'entrar en' and 'entrar a'?
Great question! For the most part, they mean the same thing: 'to enter'. 'Entrar en' is universally correct and used everywhere. 'Entrar a' is also very common, especially in Latin America. You can't go wrong with 'entrar en', but you will hear 'entrar a' a lot, so it's good to know they're interchangeable when talking about entering a place.
Can I just say 'Entro la tienda' without 'en' or 'a'?
In Spanish, you almost always need that little connecting word ('en' or 'a') when you enter a physical place. While a native speaker would understand you, it sounds unnatural. Always try to remember: 'entrar en un lugar' or 'entrar a un lugar'.