importa
im-POR-ta
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
No importa, podemos intentarlo de nuevo mañana.
A1It doesn't matter, we can try again tomorrow.
¿Te importa si cierro la puerta? Hace frío.
A2Do you mind if I close the door? It's cold.
A mis padres les importa mucho que yo estudie.
B1It matters a lot to my parents that I study.
Lo que de verdad importa es la familia.
B1What really matters is family.
💡 Grammar Points
A 'Backwards' Verb, Like 'Gustar'
This verb often works 'backwards' from English. Instead of saying 'I care about your opinion', you say 'A mí me importa tu opinión' (To me, your opinion matters). The thing that matters is the star of the sentence.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting 'Me', 'Te', 'Le'
Mistake: "A mí importa la familia."
Correction: A mí me importa la familia. You need the little word (me, te, le, nos, os, les) to show *who* it matters to.
⭐ Usage Tips
How to Politely Ask 'Do you mind?'
Use the phrase '¿Te importa si...?' followed by a verb. For example, '¿Te importa si me siento aquí?' (Do you mind if I sit here?). It's a very natural and polite way to ask for permission.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: importa
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'importa' to mean 'it matters'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'importa' and 'es importante'?
Great question! They're very similar. Use 'importa' when you want to say something 'matters'. It's a verb, an action. Use 'es importante' when you want to say something 'is important'. It's a description. Often, you can use either one: 'Importa estudiar' (It matters to study) or 'Es importante estudiar' (It is important to study).
How do I know if 'importa' means 'it matters' or 'he imports'?
Look at the words around it! If you see 'a mí me', 'a ti te', etc., it almost always means 'matters'. If you see a company or a country as the one doing the action, it probably means 'imports'. Context is everything!