inaugurar
“inaugurar” means “to open” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to open, to inaugurate
Also: to unveil, to kick off
📝 In Action
Mañana van a inaugurar el nuevo centro comercial.
A2Tomorrow they are going to open the new shopping center.
El presidente inauguró la exposición de arte ayer.
B1The president inaugurated the art exhibition yesterday.
Espero que inauguren la biblioteca pronto.
B2I hope they open the library soon.
to usher in, to start
📝 In Action
Este descubrimiento inaugura una nueva época en la ciencia.
C1This discovery ushers in a new era in science.
El primer gol inauguró el marcador.
B2The first goal opened the score.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: inaugurar
Question 1 of 3
Which of these things would you likely 'inaugurar'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'inaugurare,' which originally referred to taking omens from the flight of birds (augury) before starting a new project to ensure it had the gods' blessing.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does it only mean 'inaugurate' like a president?
No! In Spanish, it's very common for opening any new business, like a cafe, store, or gallery.
Can I use 'estrenar' instead?
Sort of! 'Estrenar' is more for objects (new shoes, a new car) or movies. 'Inaugurar' is better for places and institutions.
Is it a regular verb?
Yes! It follows all the standard rules for verbs ending in -ar.