explica

/ess-PLEE-kah/

explains

A friendly teacher character standing next to a table, pointing clearly at a simple, brightly colored geometric shape to explain a concept. A single student is sitting and listening attentively.

When you say 'He/She/It explains' something, you use explica.

explica(Verb (Conjugated Form))

A1regular ar

explains

He/She/It explains

is explaining

Current action

Also:

clarifies

Makes something clearer

📝 In Action

Mi madre siempre explica las recetas de cocina con mucha paciencia.

My mother always explains the cooking recipes with a lot of patience.

Usted explica el problema, y yo busco la solución.

You (formal) explain the problem, and I look for the solution.

El libro explica cómo funciona el motor paso a paso.

The book explains how the engine works step by step.

Word Connections

Synonyms

aclara (clarifies)
detalla (details)

Common Collocations

explica la razón – explains the reason
explica el tema – explains the topic

💡 Grammar Points

The Regular AR Ending

Since 'explicar' is a regular '-ar' verb, its third-person present form ends in '-a', just like 'habla' (he/she talks) or 'canta' (he/she sings).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Pronoun Reference

Mistake: "Using 'él explica' when you mean 'I explain' ('yo explico')."

Correction: 'Explica' means 'he/she/it' explains. Make sure you use 'explico' for 'I' or 'explicas' for 'you (informal)'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Implied Subject

You often don't need to say 'él' or 'ella' because the verb form 'explica' already tells you who is doing the action.

A cartoon character with a confused and slightly demanding expression, holding up their hand in a clear gesture of request towards a second character, signaling a command to explain.

The informal command form 'Explain!' directed at 'tú' is ¡Explica!

explica(Verb (Command Form))

A2regular ar

Explain!

Informal command (to 'tú')

Also:

Clarify!

Informal command

📝 In Action

¡Explica tu decisión! No la entiendo.

Explain your decision! I don't understand it.

Si no lo sabes, ¡explica lo que pasó!

If you don't know it, explain what happened!

💡 Grammar Points

Command Form Trick

For regular '-ar' verbs, the informal command form ('tú') is exactly the same as the 'él/ella/usted' present tense form. So, 'explica' means both 'he explains' and 'Explain! (to you)'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Formal vs. Informal Command

Mistake: "Using 'explica' when speaking formally to a boss or elder."

Correction: Use 'explique' (the 'usted' command form) when you need to be polite or formal. 'Explica' is only for friends, family, or children.

⭐ Usage Tips

Softening the Command

To make '¡Explica!' sound less demanding, always add 'por favor' (please) or a softening phrase like '¿Me puedes explicar?' (Can you explain to me?).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: explica

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'explica' as a direct command?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

explicar(to explain) - verb

explicación(explanation) - noun

explicativo(explanatory) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does 'explica' mean two different things (He explains / Explain!)?

This is a common feature in Spanish! For regular verbs like 'explicar', the informal command form ('tú') is identical to the third-person present tense form ('él/ella/usted'). You have to figure out the meaning based on the context of the conversation.

Is 'explica' a regular verb?

Yes, 'explicar' is a regular verb, but be careful in the preterite and subjunctive tenses. To keep the hard 'k' sound, the 'c' changes to 'qu' before 'e' (e.g., 'yo expliqué'). This is a spelling change, not an irregularity.