Inklingo

imagínate

ee-mah-HEE-nah-tayimaˈxinate

imagínate means Imagine that in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

Imagine that, Just thinkAlso: Wow, Can you believe it?

InterjectionB1informal
A young child with wide eyes and a dropped jaw, holding their hands up in an exaggerated expression of shock and amazement, standing in a brightly colored setting.

📝 In Action

Estuvimos esperando tres horas. ¡Imagínate!

B1

We were waiting for three hours. Imagine that!

Imagínate que ganas la lotería, ¿qué harías primero?

B2

Just think, you win the lottery, what would you do first?

Perdí el autobús, y luego, ¡imagínate!, empezó a llover a cántaros.

B1

I missed the bus, and then, can you imagine!, it started pouring rain.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • ¡No me digas! (No kidding!)
  • ¡Qué fuerte! (That's crazy!)

Imagine (it)Also: Picture (it)

VerbA2regular ar
A person sitting quietly, focused on an imaginary object—a brightly colored, fantastical creature, like a miniature dragon, floating visibly in the air right in front of them, symbolizing active imagination.
past Participleimaginado
gerundimaginando
infinitiveimaginar

📝 In Action

Imagínate un mundo sin internet. ¿Cómo sería?

A2

Imagine a world without internet. What would it be like?

Cierra los ojos e imagínate la playa.

A2

Close your eyes and imagine the beach.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • imaginar un futuroto imagine a future

Indicative

Present

yoimagino
imaginas
él/ella/ustedimagina
nosotrosimaginamos
vosotrosimagináis
ellos/ellas/ustedesimaginan

Imperfect

yoimaginaba
imaginabas
él/ella/ustedimaginaba
nosotrosimaginábamos
vosotrosimaginabais
ellos/ellas/ustedesimaginaban

Preterite

yoimaginé
imaginaste
él/ella/ustedimaginó
nosotrosimaginamos
vosotrosimaginasteis
ellos/ellas/ustedesimaginaron

Subjunctive

Present Subjunctive

yoimagine
imagines
él/ella/ustedimagine
nosotrosimaginemos
vosotrosimaginéis
ellos/ellas/ustedesimaginen

Imperfect Subjunctive

yoimaginara
imaginaras
él/ella/ustedimaginara
nosotrosimagináramos
vosotrosimaginarais
ellos/ellas/ustedesimaginaran

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "imagínate" in Spanish:

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: imagínate

Question 1 of 2

Which English phrase best captures the meaning of '¡Imagínate!' when used conversationally?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
imaginar(to imagine)Verb
imaginación(imagination)Noun
imaginario(imaginary)Adjective
🎵 Rhymes
cómprateacuérdate
📚 Etymology

Comes from the Latin verb *imagināri*, meaning 'to form a mental picture' or 'to conceive.' The Spanish word 'imagínate' is simply the command form of the verb 'imaginar' combined with the familiar pronoun 'te'.

First recorded: The root verb *imaginar* has been in use since the early Romance languages developed.

Cognates (Related words)

English: imagineFrench: imaginer

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does 'imagínate' have an accent mark?

The accent mark is needed because when you attach the pronoun 'te' to the two-syllable command 'imagina,' the natural stress of the word shifts. The accent on the second 'i' (imagÍnate) keeps the stress on the same syllable as in the original verb form 'imagina'.

When should I use 'imagínate' versus 'imagínese'?

Use 'imagínate' when speaking informally (with friends, family, or people you address as 'tú'). Use 'imagínese' when speaking formally (with strangers, elders, or professionals, where you would use 'usted').