imaginar
/ee-mah-hee-NAR/
to imagine
To imaginar means 'to imagine' or 'to picture mentally'.
imaginar(Verb)
to imagine
?to picture mentally
,to picture
?to visualize
to conceive
?to think up an idea
📝 In Action
No puedo imaginar un mundo sin música.
A2I can't imagine a world without music.
Ella imagina que su mascota puede hablar.
B1She pictures that her pet can talk.
¿Qué imaginas que haremos mañana?
A2What do you imagine we will do tomorrow?
💡 Grammar Points
Direct Object Use
When you imagine a specific thing, that thing is the direct object: 'Imagino el viaje' (I imagine the trip).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Imaginar' and 'Soñar'
Mistake: "Using 'soñar' (to dream) when you mean 'to picture something consciously'."
Correction: 'Imaginar' is for conscious mental pictures; 'soñar' is usually reserved for sleeping or strong aspirations.
⭐ Usage Tips
Focus on Visualization
Think of 'imaginar' as purely visual or conceptual. For general thinking or opinion, use 'pensar'.
In another context, imaginar can mean 'to suppose' or 'to guess' something.
imaginar(Verb)
to suppose
?to guess or assume
,to fathom
?to realize or grasp a situation (often negative)
to assume
?to take for granted
📝 In Action
Me imagino que ya comiste, ¿verdad?
B2I suppose you already ate, right?
¿Te imaginas el precio de esa casa?
C1Can you fathom the price of that house?
Se imaginaron que la reunión sería más corta.
B2They assumed the meeting would be shorter.
💡 Grammar Points
The Reflexive Change
When you add the reflexive pronoun (like 'me' or 'te'), the focus shifts from creating a picture to expressing an internal thought or assumption about reality.
Common Phrase
Use 'Me imagino que...' as a very natural, polite way to introduce an assumption in conversation.
⭐ Usage Tips
Fathoming the Unbelievable
Use '¿Te imaginas...?' when discussing something surprising, hypothetical, or hard to believe (like winning the lottery or a catastrophe).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: imaginar
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'imaginar' to mean 'to assume or guess' (imaginarse)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'imaginar' and 'pensar'?
'Imaginar' is specifically about forming a mental picture, concept, or hypothesis. 'Pensar' is broader, meaning 'to think' in general, to have an opinion, or to consider something.
Does 'imaginar' ever require the special verb form (subjunctive)?
Generally, no. When you say 'I imagine that...' ('Imagino que...'), you are stating a certainty or belief, so you typically use the standard verb form (indicative) afterwards. For example: 'Imagino que *es* difícil' (I imagine it *is* difficult).