A small child stands on a grassy hill, looking toward a valley filled with soft white fog. In the distance, an indistinct, hazy silhouette suggests the shape of a large object.

pareciera

pah-reh-SEE-eh-rah

Verb (conjugated form)B2irregular (in conjugation patterns of the base verb) er

it seemed (hypothetically)?Expressing doubt or appearance in a past situation,it would seem?Polite or tentative expression in the present

Also:as if it were?Used after 'como si'

Quick Reference

infinitiveparecer

past Participleparecido

gerundpareciendo

📝 In Action

Habla de la película como si pareciera un experto.

He talks about the movie as if he seemed like an expert.

Si pareciera un buen momento, te llamaría inmediatamente.

If it seemed like a good time, I would call you immediately.

Yo sentí que pareciera que nadie me entendía.

I felt like it seemed that nobody understood me.

Word Connections

Synonyms

semejara (it resembled)
luciera (it looked)

Common Collocations

como si pareciera – as if it seemed
no pareciera – it wouldn't seem

💡 Grammar Points

The Hypothetical Past

This form ('pareciera') is one of two ways to form the 'past special form' (imperfect subjunctive) of the verb 'parecer.' We use it when talking about past wishes, doubts, or conditions that are unreal or contrary to fact.

Use with 'Como Si'

When you use the phrase 'como si' (as if), the verb that follows must always be in this special past form, even if you are talking about the present: 'Habla como si pareciera un rey' (He speaks as if he seemed like a king).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing -ra and -se

Mistake: "Using the less common form 'pareciese' when you usually hear 'pareciera'."

Correction: Both 'pareciera' and 'pareciese' are perfectly correct and interchangeable, but '-ra' forms are much more common in everyday spoken Spanish.

Confusing with Conditional

Mistake: "Using 'parecería' (the conditional) instead of 'pareciera' after phrases like 'si' (if)."

Correction: When setting up a hypothetical situation, 'si' (if) usually demands the special past form: 'Si pareciera...' (If it seemed...), not 'Si parecería...'

⭐ Usage Tips

Politeness and Softness

Using 'pareciera' instead of the simple past ('pareció') makes your statement softer and more polite, especially when giving an opinion: 'Pareciera que no están de acuerdo' (It would seem that they don't agree).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: pareciera

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'pareciera' to express a hypothetical situation?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

parecer(to seem / to look like) - verb

aparentar(to pretend / to appear) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'pareciera' the same as 'pareciese'?

Yes, absolutely! Both 'pareciera' and 'pareciese' are two ways to say the exact same thing (the special past form of 'parecer'). You can use whichever one you prefer, but 'pareciera' is generally heard more often.

Why is 'parecer' considered irregular in the present tense if 'pareciera' follows a regular pattern?

The base verb 'parecer' is slightly irregular in the 'yo' form of the present tense ('yo parezco') because it adds a 'z'. However, once you get to the special past form ('pareciera'), the pattern is standard for all -er verbs.