Inklingo
← Dictionary

interesar

een-teh-RAH-sar/in.te.ɾeˈsaɾ/

to interest

Also: to be of interest to, to be important to
VerbA2regular ar
Mexico
A bright magnifying glass focusing on a colorful butterfly sitting on a leaf.
infinitiveinteresar
gerundinteresando
past Participleinteresado

📝 In Action

Este libro me interesa mucho.

A2

This book interests me a lot.

No me interesa el cine.

A2

I'm not interested in movies.

Te interesa aprender más sobre este tema.

B1

You would benefit from learning more about this topic.

Me interesa que lleguen a tiempo.

B2

It's important to me that they arrive on time.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • llamar la atención (to catch attention)
  • atraer (to attract)

Antonyms

  • aburrir (to bore)
  • dejar frío (to leave cold/uninterested)

Common Collocations

  • No me interesa – I'm not interested
  • Te va a interesar – You're going to be interested

Idioms & Expressions

  • Interesar a alguien en algo – To get someone interested in something

to be interested in

VerbB1regular ar
A child leaning forward with wide eyes, looking closely at a small seedling growing in a pot.
infinitiveinteresarse
gerundinteresándose
past Participleinteresado

📝 In Action

Me intereso por la historia.

B1

I'm interested in history.

Se interesa mucho en los idiomas.

B1

He's very interested in languages.

¿Te interese por la política?

A2

Are you interested in politics?

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • tener interés en (to have interest in)
  • sentir curiosidad por (to feel curiosity about)

Common Collocations

  • interesarse por – to be interested in

Idioms & Expressions

  • interesarse por algo – to take an interest in something, often actively

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedinteresa
nosotrosinteresamos
yointereso
vosotrosinteresáis
túinteresas
ellos/ellas/ustedesinteresan

imperfect

él/ella/ustedinteresaba
nosotrosinteresábamos
yointeresaba
vosotrosinteresabais
túinteresabas
ellos/ellas/ustedesinteresaban

preterite

él/ella/ustedinteresó
nosotrosinteresamos
yointeresé
vosotrosinteresasteis
túinteresaste
ellos/ellas/ustedesinteresaron

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedinterese
nosotrosinteresemos
yointerese
vosotrosintereséis
túintereses
ellos/ellas/ustedesinteresen

imperfect

él/ella/ustedinteresara
nosotrosinteresáramos
yointeresara
vosotrosinteresarais
túinteresaras
ellos/ellas/ustedesinteresaran
View All Tenses & Moods →

🔀 Commonly Confused With

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "interesar" in Spanish:

to interest→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: interesar

Question 1 of 2

Choose the correct sentence:

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From Latin interesse, meaning 'to be between, to matter, to concern'.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: interessarItalian: interessareFrench: intéresser

💡 Master Spanish

Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'interesar' and 'interesarse'?

Interesar means 'to interest' (something catches your attention). Interesarse means 'to be interested in' (you feel curiosity or want to learn). The reflexive form always uses 'por'.

Can 'interesar' mean 'to be worth it'?

Yes, in expressions like 'No te interesa comprar eso' = 'It's not worth buying that' or 'It doesn't pay off for you'.