habitar
“habitar” means “to inhabit” in Spanish (occupying a place or region).
to inhabit
Also: to live in, to dwell
📝 In Action
Muchas especies de aves habitan en este bosque tropical.
B1Many species of birds inhabit this tropical forest.
Los antiguos mayas habitaron estas tierras hace siglos.
B2The ancient Mayans inhabited these lands centuries ago.
Es un edificio abandonado que nadie puede habitar por seguridad.
C1It is an abandoned building that no one can live in for safety reasons.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: habitar
Question 1 of 3
Which word is the most natural for saying 'I live in Madrid' to a friend?
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👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin 'habitare', which is a repeated version of the word 'habere' (to have). It literally means 'to keep having' or 'to keep oneself' in a certain place.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'habitar' a regular verb?
Yes! It follows the standard pattern for all verbs ending in -ar, making it very easy to conjugate.
Can I use 'habitar' to describe a ghost in a house?
While technically possible, Spanish usually uses 'encantar' (haunted) or simply says a ghost 'está' in the house. 'Habitar' implies a physical presence or a living situation.
Do I need to use 'en' after 'habitar'?
It's optional! You can say 'habitar el bosque' or 'habitar en el bosque'. Both are correct, though omitting the 'en' is slightly more formal.