interpretar
/een-tehr-preh-TAR/
to interpret
Interpretar can mean to translate spoken words between two people.
interpretar(verb)
to interpret
?translating spoken words
to translate
?spoken communication in real-time
📝 In Action
Ella interpreta lo que dice el presidente en la conferencia.
B1She interprets what the president says at the conference.
💡 Grammar Points
Interpretar vs. Traducir
Use 'interpretar' for spoken translation and 'traducir' for written translation.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Don't use for books
Mistake: "Él interpretó el libro al inglés."
Correction: Él tradujo el libro al inglés. Books are written, so use 'traducir'.
Interpretar also means to perform a piece of music or a role in theater.
interpretar(verb)
to perform
?music or theater
,to play
?a character or role
to act
?acting out a scene
📝 In Action
El actor interpreta el papel de un villano muy famoso.
B2The actor plays the role of a very famous villain.
La orquesta interpretará la Quinta Sinfonía.
B2The orchestra will perform the Fifth Symphony.
⭐ Usage Tips
The Artist's Word
Use 'interpretar' when you want to sound more professional or artistic than just saying 'cantar' (to sing) or 'actuar' (to act).
Interpretar can describe the act of explaining or finding the meaning in something.
interpretar(verb)
to interpret
?explaining the meaning of something
to read into
?finding hidden meaning
,to construe
?analyzing facts or laws
📝 In Action
No sé cómo interpretar su silencio.
B2I don't know how to interpret her silence.
El científico interpreta los datos del experimento.
B2The scientist interprets the data from the experiment.
❌ Common Pitfalls
False Friend Alert
Mistake: "No me interpretes mal."
Correction: This is actually correct! It looks like a literal translation of 'Don't take me wrong' or 'Don't misinterpret me,' and it works perfectly in Spanish.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ 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
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).