impresionar
/eem-preh-syoh-nahr/
to impress
The child is impressed by the tall tower, showing admiration and respect for the work.
impresionar(verb)
to impress
?to make someone feel admiration or respect
to wow
?informal admiration
,to make an impression
?general impact
📝 In Action
Ella quiere impresionar a sus nuevos jefes.
A2She wants to impress her new bosses.
Me impresionó mucho tu habilidad con la guitarra.
B1I was very impressed by your skill with the guitar.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'a' with People
When you impress a specific person, you must use the word 'a' before their name or description (e.g., 'impresionar a María').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Don't confuse with 'presionar'
Mistake: "Using 'impresionar' when you mean 'to pressure'."
Correction: Use 'presionar' for physical or social pressure; 'impresionar' is only for mental/emotional impact.
⭐ Usage Tips
The 'Me' Structure
It is very common to use this word like 'gustar'. Instead of saying 'I am impressed', Spanish speakers often say 'It impresses me' (Me impresiona).
The sudden surprise creates a shock, causing a strong emotional reaction.
impresionar(verb)
to shock
?to cause a strong emotional reaction, often from surprise or distress
to affect
?to leave a deep emotional mark
📝 In Action
La noticia del accidente nos impresionó a todos.
B2The news of the accident shocked all of us.
Me impresionó ver la ciudad tan vacía.
B2It shocked/affected me to see the city so empty.
⭐ Usage Tips
Positive vs. Negative
While often positive (admiration), in this sense it can be negative (distress). Context tells you which one it is.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: impresionar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence means 'He wants to impress her'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'impresionar' always a positive thing?
Not necessarily. While it often means someone did something great, it can also describe being shocked or deeply affected by sad or scary news.
Is this verb regular?
Yes! It follows the standard pattern for all verbs ending in -ar, making it very easy to conjugate in all tenses.