pareció
“pareció” means “it seemed” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
it seemed, he/she/you (formal) seemed
Also: it appeared
📝 In Action
La película no le pareció muy interesante a mi hermano.
A2The movie didn't seem very interesting to my brother.
¿Qué te pareció la cena anoche? Estaba deliciosa.
A2What did you think of the dinner last night? It was delicious.
Cuando lo vi, me pareció que estaba enfermo.
B1When I saw him, it seemed to me that he was sick.
he/she/it appeared
Also: he/she/it turned up
📝 In Action
El mago hizo un gesto y el ramo de flores pareció de la nada.
B1The magician made a gesture and the bouquet of flowers appeared out of nowhere.
Después de horas de búsqueda, el documento perdido pareció en su escritorio.
B2After hours of searching, the lost document appeared on his desk.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "pareció" in Spanish:
it seemed→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: pareció
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'pareció' to express a subjective opinion?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin verb *parēre*, meaning 'to appear' or 'to obey.' In Spanish, it evolved to focus on the idea of 'appearing' or 'seeming' a certain way.
First recorded: Medieval Spanish (around the 13th century)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'parecer' sometimes translate as 'to seem' and sometimes as 'to look like'?
The core meaning is 'to appear.' When used alone (like 'pareció'), it means 'it seemed' (an impression). When used reflexively with 'se' ('se pareció a'), it means 'it made itself appear like,' which is how you say 'to look like' or 'to resemble.'
What is the difference between 'pareció' and 'parecía'?
'Pareció' (simple past) refers to a single, completed moment in the past ('At that moment, it seemed strange'). 'Parecía' (imperfect past) refers to something that seemed true continuously or habitually ('It always seemed strange').