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ilustrar

ee-loos-trahr/ilusˈtɾaɾ/

“ilustrar” means “to illustrate” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

to illustrate

Also: to decorate
VerbB1regular ar
A child drawing a colorful dragon in a book.
gerundilustrando
past Participleilustrado
infinitiveilustrar

📝 In Action

Ella va a ilustrar el nuevo libro de cuentos.

A2

She is going to illustrate the new storybook.

El artista ilustró la portada con colores vivos.

B1

The artist illustrated the cover with bright colors.

Estamos buscando a alguien para ilustrar el manual técnico.

B2

We are looking for someone to illustrate the technical manual.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • ilustrar un libro – to illustrate a book
  • ilustrar a mano – to illustrate by hand

to illustrate

Also: to explain, to enlighten
VerbB2regular arformal
A teacher pointing to a large, clear drawing of a plant to show its parts.
gerundilustrando
past Participleilustrado
infinitiveilustrar

📝 In Action

Permítame ilustrar mi punto con un ejemplo real.

B2

Let me illustrate my point with a real example.

El profesor ilustró la teoría mediante un experimento.

B2

The professor illustrated the theory by means of an experiment.

Esos datos sirven para ilustrar la gravedad de la situación.

C1

Those facts serve to illustrate the gravity of the situation.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • ilustrar un concepto – to illustrate a concept
  • ilustrar con ejemplos – to illustrate with examples

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesilustraran
yoilustrara
túilustraras
vosotrosilustrarais
nosotrosilustráramos
él/ella/ustedilustrara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesilustren
yoilustre
túilustres
vosotrosilustréis
nosotrosilustremos
él/ella/ustedilustre

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesilustraron
yoilustré
túilustraste
vosotrosilustrasteis
nosotrosilustramos
él/ella/ustedilustró

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesilustraban
yoilustraba
túilustrabas
vosotrosilustrabais
nosotrosilustrábamos
él/ella/ustedilustraba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesilustran
yoilustro
túilustras
vosotrosilustráis
nosotrosilustramos
él/ella/ustedilustra
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "ilustrar" in Spanish:

to decorate→to enlighten→to explain→to illustrate→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: ilustrar

Question 1 of 3

Which sentence uses 'ilustrar' to mean 'explaining with examples'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
ilustración(illustration) — Noun
ilustrador(illustrator) — Noun
ilustrado(illustrated / learned) — Adjective
ilustre(illustrious / distinguished) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'illustrare', which literally meant 'to light up' or 'to make bright'. This is why it refers to both making a page look better with art and making an idea 'clearer' in your mind.

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: illustrateFrench: illustrerItalian: illustrare

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'ilustrar' a regular verb?

Yes, it follows the standard pattern for all verbs ending in -ar in all tenses. No stem changes or weird endings!

Can I use 'ilustrar' for making a simple sketch?

Technically yes, but it sounds very formal. For a quick sketch or doodle, 'dibujar' (to draw) or 'hacer un boceto' (to make a sketch) is much more natural.

What does 'la Ilustración' refer to?

When capitalized, it refers to 'The Enlightenment', the 18th-century philosophical movement that emphasized reason and science (metaphorically 'lighting up' the darkness of ignorance).