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inventar

een-ben-TAR/imbenˈtaɾ/

“inventar” means “to invent” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

to invent

Also: to design, to devise
VerbA2regular ar
A friendly inventor in a workshop holding a unique, glowing mechanical gadget with gears and light bulbs.
past Participleinventado
infinitiveinventar
gerundinventando

📝 In Action

Thomas Edison inventó la bombilla.

A1

Thomas Edison invented the lightbulb.

Quiero inventar una aplicación para aprender idiomas.

A2

I want to invent an app for learning languages.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • inventar una máquina – to invent a machine
  • inventar un método – to invent a method

to make up

Also: to concoct, to forge
VerbB1regular ar
A child with an imaginative expression telling a story while a thought bubble above them shows a friendly purple dragon.
past Participleinventado
infinitiveinventar
gerundinventando

📝 In Action

No me mientas, dejá de inventar excusas.

B1

Don't lie to me, stop making up excuses.

Ella inventó una historia fantástica para su sobrino.

B1

She made up a fantastic story for her nephew.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • inventar una excusa – to make up an excuse
  • inventar un cuento – to make up a tale

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesinventen
vosotrosinventéis
él/ella/ustedinvente
nosotrosinventemos
túinventes
yoinvente

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesinventaran
vosotrosinventarais
él/ella/ustedinventara
nosotrosinventáramos
túinventaras
yoinventara

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesinventaron
vosotrosinventasteis
él/ella/ustedinventó
nosotrosinventamos
túinventaste
yoinventé

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesinventaban
vosotrosinventabais
él/ella/ustedinventaba
nosotrosinventábamos
túinventabas
yoinventaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesinventan
vosotrosinventáis
él/ella/ustedinventa
nosotrosinventamos
túinventas
yoinvento
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "inventar" in Spanish:

to concoct→to design→to devise→to forge→to invent→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: inventar

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'inventar' to mean 'telling a lie'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
invento(invention) — Noun
inventor(inventor) — Noun
invención(invention (the act of)) — Noun
inventivo(inventive) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'invenire,' which means 'to come upon' or 'to find.' It's a combination of 'in' (into) and 'venire' (to come).

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: inventFrench: inventerItalian: inventare

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'inventar' a common word?

Yes, it is used frequently in both formal science contexts and in everyday social situations when someone isn't being truthful.

Can I use 'inventar' for 'to make up' a bed?

No. For making a bed, use 'hacer la cama.' 'Inventar' is only for creating things with your mind or hands.