ignorar
/eeg-noh-RAHR/
to ignore
When you use 'ignorar' to mean 'to ignore,' you actively pay no attention to something.
ignorar(verb)
to ignore
?to pay no attention
to disregard
?to overlook deliberately
,to snub
?to intentionally slight someone
📝 In Action
Ella decidió ignorar los comentarios negativos y seguir adelante.
A2She decided to ignore the negative comments and move forward.
Por favor, no ignores las reglas de seguridad.
B1Please, do not disregard the safety rules.
Me sentí muy mal cuando mi mejor amigo me ignoró en la fiesta.
A2I felt very bad when my best friend ignored me at the party.
💡 Grammar Points
Direct Object Usage
When you ignore a person or thing, that person or thing is the direct object. For people, remember to use the personal 'a': 'Ignoramos a la camarera' (We ignored the waitress).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusion with 'No Saber'
Mistake: "Using 'ignorar' when you simply mean 'I don't know a fact' in everyday conversation."
Correction: For simple lack of knowledge, use 'no saber' (e.g., 'No sé la respuesta' - I don't know the answer). Use 'ignorar' for deliberate disregard or formal 'not knowing' (see next definition).
⭐ Usage Tips
The Stronger Word
'Ignorar' is usually stronger than just 'not noticing.' It implies a choice to overlook or actively dismiss something.
The second meaning of 'ignorar' is 'to not know' or to be unaware of a fact or situation.
ignorar(verb)
to not know
?to be unaware of a fact or situation
to be ignorant of
?formal/literary
📝 In Action
El presidente ignoraba por completo los detalles de la negociación.
B2The president was completely unaware of the details of the negotiation.
Ignoramos si mañana hará buen tiempo.
C1We do not know if the weather will be good tomorrow.
💡 Grammar Points
Formal Context
Use this meaning of 'ignorar' when writing academic papers, reports, or when speaking about historical or complex facts where 'to not know' sounds too simple.
⭐ Usage Tips
Historical Root
This is the original meaning of 'ignorar' (from which 'ignorant' comes). It is used when the speaker wants to emphasize a profound lack of knowledge regarding a specific matter.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: ignorar
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'ignorar' in its formal sense, meaning 'to not know'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell if 'ignorar' means 'to ignore' or 'to not know'?
Usually, context is key. If the sentence describes a deliberate action or choice (like ignoring a person or a rule), it means 'to ignore' (A2 level). If it is used in formal writing or describes a state of lacking knowledge about a deep subject, it means 'to not know' (B2 level).
Is 'ignorar' a regular verb?
Yes, 'ignorar' is a completely regular verb that follows the standard conjugation patterns for all verbs ending in -ar.