matizar
“matizar” means “to qualify” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to qualify, to clarify
Also: to nuance
📝 In Action
Tengo que matizar mi respuesta anterior: no todos los casos son iguales.
B2I need to qualify my previous answer: not all cases are the same.
El presidente matizó sus declaraciones después de la crítica.
B2The president clarified his statements after the criticism.
Es importante matizar que esta es solo mi opinión personal.
B1It is important to clarify that this is only my personal opinion.
to blend, to tint
📝 In Action
El pintor matizó las sombras con un tono azulado.
C1The painter blended the shadows with a bluish tone.
La luz del sol matiza las montañas al atardecer.
C1The sunlight tints the mountains at sunset.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: matizar
Question 1 of 3
If you want to say 'I need to clarify a detail in my speech,' which verb is best?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Spanish noun 'matiz' (shade), which likely traces back to the Latin word 'metaxa' meaning 'raw silk', referring to the way silk reflects different shades of light.
First recorded: 16th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'matizar' a common word?
It is very common in educated speech, news, and professional settings, but you might not hear it as often in a casual street conversation.
Does it mean the same as 'aclarar'?
They are close, but 'aclarar' just means to make clear, while 'matizar' means to make clear by adding specific details or 'nuances'.
Is 'matizar' always about talking?
No, it can also be used in art to describe blending colors or in fashion to describe shades of fabric.