interrogar
een-teh-rro-GAHR
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
La policía decidió interrogar al sospechoso durante tres horas.
B1The police decided to interrogate the suspect for three hours.
El abogado va a interrogar a los testigos mañana.
B1The lawyer is going to question the witnesses tomorrow.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'GU' Spelling Change
When 'interrogar' is followed by an 'e' sound (like in the first-person past tense 'yo interrogue'), we add a 'u' after the 'g' to keep the hard 'g' sound, like in 'game'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Interrogar vs. Preguntar
Mistake: "Using 'interrogar' for simple questions like 'What time is it?'"
Correction: Use 'preguntar' for everyday questions and 'interrogar' only for formal or serious questioning.
⭐ Usage Tips
Tone Matters
Using this word implies a position of authority. Don't use it with friends unless you are joking about acting like a detective!
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: interrogar
Question 1 of 2
Which word is best used for a police officer questioning a suspect?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'interrogar' always sound negative?
Not necessarily negative, but it is always very serious. It's used in courts, police stations, and formal investigations.