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interpretar

een-tehr-preh-TARinteɾpɾeˈtaɾ

to interpret

Also: to translate
VerbB1regular ar
Two people speaking different languages with a third person in the middle whispering to one of them.
gerundinterpretando
past Participleinterpretado
infinitiveinterpretar

📝 In Action

Ella interpreta lo que dice el presidente en la conferencia.

B1

She interprets what the president says at the conference.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • interprete simultáneo – simultaneous interpreter

to perform, to play

Also: to act
VerbB2regular ar
A musician playing a violin on a stage with a spotlight.
gerundinterpretando
past Participleinterpretado
infinitiveinterpretar

📝 In Action

El actor interpreta el papel de un villano muy famoso.

B2

The actor plays the role of a very famous villain.

La orquesta interpretará la Quinta Sinfonía.

B2

The orchestra will perform the Fifth Symphony.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • interpretar una canción – to perform a song
  • interpretar un papel – to play a role

to interpret

Also: to read into, to construe
VerbB2regular ar
A person looking at a complex painting and explaining it to a friend.
gerundinterpretando
past Participleinterpretado
infinitiveinterpretar

📝 In Action

No sé cómo interpretar su silencio.

B2

I don't know how to interpret her silence.

El científico interpreta los datos del experimento.

B2

The scientist interprets the data from the experiment.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • interpretar mal – to misinterpret
  • interpretar la ley – to interpret the law

Subjunctive

Imperfect Subjunctive

yointerpretara
túinterpretaras
él/ella/ustedinterpretara
nosotrosinterpretáramos
vosotrosinterpretarais
ellos/ellas/ustedesinterpretaran

Present Subjunctive

yointerprete
túinterpretes
él/ella/ustedinterprete
nosotrosinterpretemos
vosotrosinterpretéis
ellos/ellas/ustedesinterpreten

Indicative

Preterite

yointerpreté
túinterpretaste
él/ella/ustedinterpretó
nosotrosinterpretamos
vosotrosinterpretasteis
ellos/ellas/ustedesinterpretaron

Imperfect

yointerpretaba
túinterpretabas
él/ella/ustedinterpretaba
nosotrosinterpretábamos
vosotrosinterpretabais
ellos/ellas/ustedesinterpretaban

Present

yointerpreto
túinterpretas
él/ella/ustedinterpreta
nosotrosinterpretamos
vosotrosinterpretáis
ellos/ellas/ustedesinterpretan
View All Tenses & Moods →

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✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: interpretar

Question 1 of 2

Which verb should you use if you are translating a written book into another language?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
intérprete(interpreter) — Noun
interpretación(interpretation) — Noun
malinterpretar(to misinterpret) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From Latin 'interpretari', which means to explain or to understand the meaning of something.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: interpretFrench: interpréter

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'interpretar' a regular verb?

Yes, it follows the standard pattern for verbs ending in -ar in all tenses.

Can I use 'interpretar' for data analysis?

Yes, just like in English, you can 'interpretar los resultados' (interpret the results).