escriba
/es-KREE-bah/
scribe
This image illustrates 'escriba', meaning 'scribe' or historical copyist.
escriba(noun)
scribe
?historical copyist or writer
clerk
?historical official secretary
,copyist
?person who manually duplicates texts
📝 In Action
Antes de la imprenta, el escriba era esencial para preservar los textos.
B2Before the printing press, the scribe was essential for preserving texts.
El escriba real registraba todas las decisiones del rey.
C1The royal scribe recorded all the king's decisions.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Note
Although the profession of scribe (escriba) was often historically male, the word itself is usually treated as grammatically masculine (el escriba), even when referring to a woman, though la escriba is also accepted.
⭐ Usage Tips
Historical Context
Only use escriba when discussing ancient history, biblical studies, or medieval times. For a modern office worker who writes, use secretario or empleado.
This image visualizes 'escriba', the subjunctive form of the verb 'to write', often used to express a wish or necessity ('that I write').
escriba(verb)
I write (subjunctive)
?expressing wish, doubt, or necessity
,that he/she/you (formal) write
?expressing wish, doubt, or necessity
write! (formal command)
?giving a formal instruction to one person (usted)
📝 In Action
Espero que ella escriba un libro pronto.
B1I hope that she writes a book soon.
¡Escriba su nombre aquí, por favor!
A2Write your name here, please! (Formal command)
No creo que yo escriba el informe hoy.
B1I don't think that I will write the report today.
💡 Grammar Points
The Special 'Wish' Form (Subjunctive)
The form escriba is used when you are talking about wishes, doubts, emotions, or things that might not be real. For example, after phrases like espero que (I hope that) or dudo que (I doubt that).
Formal Commands
The form escriba is also the formal way to tell one person (usted) to write something: ¡Escriba! (Write!). It uses the same structure as the subjunctive.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing Command Forms
Mistake: "Using *escribe* for a formal command to *usted*."
Correction: Use *escriba* for *usted* (formal) and *escribe* for *tú* (informal). The Spanish command system depends on how well you know the person.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: escriba
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'escriba' as a formal command?
📚 More Resources
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'.