fundamentar
“fundamentar” means “to base on” in Spanish (ideas or arguments).
to base on
Also: to ground, to substantiate
📝 In Action
Tienes que fundamentar tu respuesta con ejemplos claros.
B1You have to base your answer on clear examples.
El científico fundamentó su teoría en años de investigación.
B2The scientist grounded his theory in years of research.
La acusación no está bien fundamentada y fue rechazada por el juez.
C1The accusation is not well-substantiated and was rejected by the judge.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: fundamentar
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence correctly uses 'fundamentar' to say 'I base my opinion on facts'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin 'fundamentāre', which comes from 'fundamentum' meaning 'foundation' or 'bottom'. It shares the same root as the English word 'foundation'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'fundamentar' common in daily conversation?
Not really. In casual talk, people usually use 'basar' (to base). You'll hear 'fundamentar' mostly in school, news, law, or serious discussions.
Does it have a special form for 'yo' in the present?
No, it is a completely regular verb. It follows the standard -ar ending: 'Yo fundamento'.
Can I use 'fundamentar' for a building's foundation?
Technically yes, but it is very rare. For physical buildings, Spanish speakers usually use 'cimentar' (from 'cimiento' / cement).