instruir
“instruir” means “to instruct” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to instruct
Also: to teach, to train
📝 In Action
El profesor quiere instruir a sus alumnos en la historia del arte.
B1The teacher wants to instruct his students in art history.
Es necesario instruir al personal sobre el uso del nuevo sistema.
B2It is necessary to train the staff on the use of the new system.
Se instruyó a sí mismo leyendo muchos libros.
C1He educated himself by reading many books.
to brief
Also: to investigate / prepare a case
📝 In Action
El juez debe instruir el caso antes del juicio.
C1The judge must investigate/prepare the case before the trial.
El capitán instruyó a sus soldados sobre la misión.
B2The captain briefed his soldiers on the mission.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: instruir
Question 1 of 3
How would you say 'I instruct' in Spanish?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From Latin 'instruere', which means 'to build into' or 'to set in order'. It combines 'in-' (into) and 'struere' (to pile up or build).
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'instruir' the same as 'enseñar'?
Not exactly. While both mean to teach, 'enseñar' is the general word used for everything from math to tying shoes. 'Instruir' is more formal and usually refers to structured training or professional education.
Why is there a 'y' in 'instruyo'?
Spanish phonetics usually avoids having three vowels together if the middle one is 'u' or 'i' (like 'i-u-o'). To make the sound clearer, the 'i' changes to a 'y'.
Can I use 'instruir' to mean 'to inform'?
Yes, but it's very formal. It's like saying 'to brief' someone rather than just 'to tell' them something.