forman
“forman” means “they form” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
they form, they shape
Also: they build
📝 In Action
Los estudiantes forman un equipo para el proyecto.
A2The students form a team for the project.
Las nubes forman figuras extrañas en el cielo.
B1The clouds form strange shapes in the sky.
they make up, they constitute
Also: they comprise
📝 In Action
Estos diez países forman la Unión Económica.
B1These ten countries make up the Economic Union.
Los átomos forman las moléculas.
B2Atoms constitute molecules.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "forman" in Spanish:
they build→they comprise→they constitute→they form→they shape→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: forman
Question 1 of 2
Which English phrase best translates 'Ellas forman la base del proyecto'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin verb *formare*, meaning 'to shape, fashion, or construct.' It has kept its core meaning over thousands of years.
First recorded: Old Spanish (around the 13th century)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'forman' means 'create' or 'make up'?
Look at the direct object (what receives the action). If they are actively building something new (like 'un muro'), it means 'create.' If they are describing the components of an existing whole (like 'el equipo'), it means 'make up' or 'constitute'.
Is 'forman' a regular verb?
Yes! The infinitive 'formar' is a perfectly regular verb, meaning it follows all the standard patterns for verbs ending in -ar. This makes its conjugations easy to predict.