inspirar
“inspirar” means “to inspire” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to inspire
Also: to instill, to suggest
📝 In Action
Ella logra inspirar a todos sus alumnos.
A2She manages to inspire all her students.
Tu valentía me inspira a ser mejor persona.
B1Your courage inspires me to be a better person.
Ese edificio inspira mucha confianza.
B2That building instills a lot of confidence.
to inhale
Also: to breathe in
📝 In Action
El paciente debe inspirar profundamente.
B1The patient must inhale deeply.
Inspira por la nariz y exhala por la boca.
A2Inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: inspirar
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence means 'You inspire me'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'inspirare', which literally means 'to blow into'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'respirar' and 'inspirar'?
'Respirar' is the general word for breathing (the whole cycle). 'Inspirar' specifically refers to the act of taking air into the lungs.
Can 'inspirar' be used for bad things, like fear?
Yes! You can say 'Él me inspira miedo' (He instills fear in me), just as you can say it for trust or confidence.
Is it a regular verb?
Yes, it follows the standard pattern for all verbs ending in -ar.