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formas

for-masˈfoɾmas

“formas” means “shapes” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

shapes, ways, forms

Also: molds, manners
NounfA1
A high-contrast illustration showing basic geometric shapes: a red square, blue circle, yellow triangle, and green rectangle, slightly overlapping.

📝 In Action

Los niños dibujan formas en el papel: círculos, cuadrados y triángulos.

A1

The children draw shapes on the paper: circles, squares, and triangles.

Hay muchas formas de aprender un idioma.

A2

There are many ways to learn a language.

Por favor, complete estas formas con su información personal.

B1

Please, fill out these forms with your personal information.

De todas formas, gracias por intentarlo.

B1

Anyway, thanks for trying.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • figuras (figures)
  • maneras (ways, manners)
  • modos (ways, modes)
  • siluetas (silhouettes)

Common Collocations

  • de todas formas – anyway, in any case
  • en buena forma – in good shape
  • perder las formas – to lose one's temper, to be rude

you form

Also: you make up, you educate
VerbA2regular ar
Two hands gently pressing and shaping a lump of soft, brown clay into a simple, recognizable pot on a wooden surface.
infinitiveformar
gerundformando
past Participleformado

📝 In Action

Tú formas un equipo excelente con tu hermana.

A2

You form an excellent team with your sister.

¿Por qué no formas una fila como los demás?

A2

Why don't you form a line like everyone else?

Con tu actitud, formas el carácter de tus hijos.

B1

With your attitude, you form (shape) your children's character.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • formar parte de – to be part of
  • formar una opinión – to form an opinion

Indicative

Present

yoformo
túformas
él/ella/ustedforma
nosotrosformamos
vosotrosformáis
ellos/ellas/ustedesforman

Imperfect

yoformaba
túformabas
él/ella/ustedformaba
nosotrosformábamos
vosotrosformabais
ellos/ellas/ustedesformaban

Preterite

yoformé
túformaste
él/ella/ustedformó
nosotrosformamos
vosotrosformasteis
ellos/ellas/ustedesformaron

Subjunctive

Present Subjunctive

yoforme
túformes
él/ella/ustedforme
nosotrosformemos
vosotrosforméis
ellos/ellas/ustedesformen

Imperfect Subjunctive

yoformara
túformaras
él/ella/ustedformara
nosotrosformáramos
vosotrosformarais
ellos/ellas/ustedesformaran
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "formas" in Spanish:

forms→manners→molds→shapes→ways→you educate→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: formas

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'formas' to mean 'ways' or 'methods'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
normasplataformasreformas
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word 'fōrma', which meant 'form, contour, shape, or figure'. This Latin root has given rise to many words in English and other Romance languages.

First recorded: Around the 10th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: formFrench: formeItalian: formaPortuguese: forma

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'formas' and 'formulario'?

Good question! They both can mean 'form' in English. Use 'formas' when you mean multiple documents in general ('fill out these forms'). Use 'formulario' for a single, specific document designed to be filled out, like an application form ('el formulario de solicitud').

Is 'de todas formas' the same as 'de todos modos'?

Yes, they are practically identical. Both 'de todas formas' and 'de todos modos' mean 'anyway' or 'in any case' and are used interchangeably in everyday conversation.