expandir
“expandir” means “to expand” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to expand
Also: to enlarge
📝 In Action
El calor hace que el metal se expanda.
B1Heat causes metal to expand.
Necesitamos expandir nuestro taller porque no hay espacio.
B1We need to expand our workshop because there is no space.
El universo se está expandiendo constantemente.
B2The universe is constantly expanding.
to spread, to branch out
Also: to broaden
📝 In Action
La marca quiere expandir su presencia en Latinoamérica.
B2The brand wants to expand its presence in Latin America.
Leer ayuda a expandir tus horizontes.
B1Reading helps to broaden your horizons.
El virus se expandió rápidamente por la ciudad.
B2The virus spread quickly through the city.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: expandir
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence refers to a business growing?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'expandere', which is made of 'ex-' (out) and 'pandere' (to spread). It literally means 'to spread out'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'expandir' a regular verb?
Yes, it follows the standard conjugation rules for all verbs ending in -ir.
When should I use 'expandirse' instead of 'expandir'?
Use 'expandirse' (the reflexive version) when something spreads or grows on its own without an external person doing it, like a rumor or a gas.
Is 'extender' the same as 'expandir'?
They are close, but 'extender' is usually for flat surfaces (like spreading a rug) or time (extending a deadline), while 'expandir' is for volume and reach (like a business or a gas).