fíjate
“fíjate” means “look” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
📝 In Action
Fíjate bien en cómo lo hago antes de intentarlo tú.
A2Pay close attention to how I do it before you try it.
Fíjate, ¡hay un perro gigante en el parque!
A1Look! There's a giant dog in the park!
Word Connections
wow, can you believe it?Also: seriously
📝 In Action
Fíjate, ¡ganaron la lotería después de comprar un solo billete!
B1Can you believe it? They won the lottery after buying just one ticket!
Me dijo que no vendría, pero fíjate, ¡aquí está!
B2He told me he wasn't coming, but wow, here he is!
Word Connections
check this out, listenAlso: let me tell you
📝 In Action
Fíjate, si quieres ahorrar dinero, tienes que cocinar en casa más a menudo.
B1Listen, if you want to save money, you have to cook at home more often.
No sé qué hacer. Fíjate, si compro el coche rojo, no me queda dinero para el viaje.
B2I don't know what to do. Check this out: if I buy the red car, I won't have money left for the trip.
Word Connections
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: fíjate
Question 1 of 2
Which English phrase best captures the meaning of 'Fíjate, ¡se casó con su jefe!'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology
Comes from the verb 'fijar,' which itself comes from the Latin word *figere*, meaning 'to fasten' or 'to fix in place.' When you tell someone 'fíjate,' you are essentially telling them to 'fix their attention' on something.
First recorded: Root verb dates back to the 13th century in Spanish.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'fíjate' have an accent mark?
The base verb 'fija' already has stress on the 'i.' When you attach the pronoun 'te,' the word becomes longer, and Spanish rules require an accent mark ('tildes') to keep the stress on that original, important syllable (FI-ja-te).
Can I use 'fíjate' with people I don't know well?
'Fíjate' uses the informal 'tú' form, so it is best reserved for friends, family, children, or casual settings. If you are speaking formally (to a boss, a stranger, or an elder), use 'Fíjese' instead.