inclinar
“inclinar” means “to tilt” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to tilt, to lean
Also: to tip, to bow
📝 In Action
Él inclinó la cabeza para saludar.
A1He tilted his head to say hello.
No inclines mucho la botella o se caerá el vino.
A2Don't tilt the bottle too much or the wine will fall out.
Ella se inclinó para recoger sus llaves del suelo.
B1She leaned over to pick up her keys from the floor.
to lean toward, to influence
Also: to predispose
📝 In Action
Me inclino por la primera propuesta; parece más barata.
B1I'm leaning toward the first proposal; it seems cheaper.
Sus palabras inclinaron la balanza a mi favor.
B2His words tipped the scales in my favor.
La falta de tiempo me inclina a pensar que no vendrá.
C1The lack of time leads me to believe he won't come.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "inclinar" in Spanish:
to bow→to influence→to lean→to predispose→to tilt→to tip→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: inclinar
Question 1 of 3
If you are leaning over to tie your shoes, which is correct?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin 'inclinare', meaning 'to bend' or 'to lean towards'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'inclinar' a regular verb?
Yes! It follows the standard -ar verb rules perfectly, so if you know how to conjugate 'hablar', you know how to conjugate 'inclinar'.
What is the difference between 'inclinar' and 'doblar'?
'Inclinar' usually means to lean or tilt something while it stays straight. 'Doblar' means to fold or bend something so it's no longer straight (like a piece of paper or your knees).
How do I say 'I lean toward the red one'?
You would say: 'Me inclino por el rojo'.