expresar
“expresar” means “to express” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
to express, to state
Also: to voice
📝 In Action
Quiero expresar mi gratitud por tu ayuda.
A1I want to express my gratitude for your help.
Ella expresó una opinión muy fuerte sobre el tema.
A2She stated a very strong opinion on the topic.
Es difícil expresar exactamente lo que siento.
B1It is difficult to express exactly what I feel.
to express oneself, to make oneself understood
📝 In Action
Ella se expresa muy bien en varios idiomas.
B1She expresses herself very well in several languages.
A veces, me cuesta expresarme cuando estoy nervioso.
B2Sometimes, it's hard for me to articulate myself when I'm nervous.
to represent, to denote
Also: to signify
📝 In Action
El símbolo 'E' expresa la energía en física.
B2The symbol 'E' represents energy in physics.
Esta danza expresa la historia de la comunidad.
B2This dance shows the history of the community.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
imperfect
present
preterite
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "expresar" in Spanish:
to denote→to express→to represent→to signify→to state→to voice→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: expresar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'expresarse' (the reflexive form)?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb *exprimere*, which literally meant 'to press out' or 'to squeeze out.' This perfectly captures the idea of taking an internal thought or feeling and pushing it out into the world through words or actions.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'expresar' and 'decir'?
'Decir' means 'to say' or 'to tell' and is generally used for simple communication of information. 'Expresar' means 'to express' and implies communicating a deeper feeling, thought, or attitude, often in a more thoughtful or emotional way.
Is 'expresar' transitive or intransitive?
It is usually transitive, meaning it needs a direct object (you express *something*). However, when used as 'expresarse' (reflexive), it functions more like an intransitive verb, focusing on the ability of the subject to articulate themselves.