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escriba

es-KREE-bah/esˈkɾi.βa/

“escriba” means “scribe” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

scribe

Also: clerk, copyist
Nounm/fB2formal
A historical scribe sitting at a wooden desk, dipping a quill pen into an inkwell while looking at a piece of parchment that rests on the desk.

📝 In Action

Antes de la imprenta, el escriba era esencial para preservar los textos.

B2

Before the printing press, the scribe was essential for preserving texts.

El escriba real registraba todas las decisiones del rey.

C1

The royal scribe recorded all the king's decisions.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • copista (copyist)
  • amanuense (amanuensis (secretary))

Common Collocations

  • escriba público – public scribe

I write (subjunctive), that he/she/you (formal) write

Also: write! (formal command)
VerbA2irregular ir
A close-up view of a person's hand holding a pen and actively drawing a continuous, flowing line on a clean white sheet of paper.
infinitiveescribir
past Participleescrito
gerundescribiendo

📝 In Action

Espero que ella escriba un libro pronto.

B1

I hope that she writes a book soon.

¡Escriba su nombre aquí, por favor!

A2

Write your name here, please! (Formal command)

No creo que yo escriba el informe hoy.

B1

I don't think that I will write the report today.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • redactar (to draft)
  • teclear (to type)

Common Collocations

  • escriba una carta – write a letter (formal command)

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

yoescribiera
él/ella/ustedescribiera
nosotrosescribiéramos
vosotrosescribierais
ellos/ellas/ustedesescribieran
túescribieras

present

yoescriba
él/ella/ustedescriba
nosotrosescribamos
vosotrosescribáis
ellos/ellas/ustedesescriban
túescribas

indicative

preterite

yoescribí
él/ella/ustedescribió
nosotrosescribimos
vosotrosescribisteis
ellos/ellas/ustedesescribieron
túescribiste

imperfect

yoescribía
él/ella/ustedescribía
nosotrosescribíamos
vosotrosescribíais
ellos/ellas/ustedesescribían
túescribías

present

yoescribo
él/ella/ustedescribe
nosotrosescribimos
vosotrosescribís
ellos/ellas/ustedesescriben
túescribes
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "escriba" in Spanish:

clerk→copyist→scribe→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: escriba

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'escriba' as a formal command?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes directly from the Latin word *scriba*, which meant 'public clerk' or 'writer.' It shares its root with the Spanish verb *escribir* (to write).

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: scribeItalian: scriva

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Frequently Asked Questions

How can I tell if 'escriba' is the noun or the verb form?

If it is preceded by an article (like 'el' or 'la'), it is the noun (the scribe). If it follows a verb that expresses doubt or desire (like 'espero que'), or if it's used as a polite command, it is the verb form of 'escribir'.