Inklingo
← Dictionary

interpretar

een-tehr-preh-TAR/inteɾpɾeˈtaɾ/

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

  • traducir (to translate)

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

  • explicar (to explain)
  • entender (to understand)

Common Collocations

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

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

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

present

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

indicative

preterite

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

imperfect

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

present

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

Translate to Spanish

✏️ 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

💡 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

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).