explicarlo
“explicarlo” means “to explain it” in Spanish (referring to a masculine noun, an abstract idea, or a situation).
to explain it, to explain him
Also: to clarify it
📝 In Action
Necesito explic-ar-lo antes de que empieces.
A2I need to explain it before you start.
No es tan difícil como parece, solo tienes que explic-ar-lo bien.
B1It's not as difficult as it seems, you just have to explain it well.
El profesor no pudo explic-ar-lo con suficiente claridad.
B2The teacher couldn't explain it clearly enough.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: explicarlo
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses the alternative placement for the pronoun 'lo'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
This word comes from the Latin verb *explicare*, which literally meant 'to unfold' or 'to unroll.' This evolved into the meaning of 'unraveling' a mystery or a difficult concept so that everyone can understand it.
First recorded: 13th century (for the base verb *explicar*)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'explicarlo' always mean 'to explain it'?
Yes, but 'it' can be a masculine thing (like 'el libro') or an abstract idea/situation. It can also mean 'to explain him' if you are referring to a masculine person.
Why is the stress on the 'a' (explicARlo) and not the 'lo'?
When you attach a pronoun to an infinitive verb, the stress stays on the last syllable of the base verb (the 'ar' ending in this case). This helps native speakers understand that it's still the base verb 'explicar' that is being used.