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parpadear

par-pah-deh-arpaɾpaðeˈaɾ

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

to blink

Also: to bat one's eyelashes
VerbA2regular ar
General
A close-up of a friendly cartoon face showing one eye closed and one eye open to represent blinking.
gerundparpadeando
past Participleparpadeado
infinitiveparpadear

📝 In Action

No parpadees para la foto.

A2

Don't blink for the photo.

Él parpadeó varias veces porque le entró algo en el ojo.

B1

He blinked several times because something got in his eye.

Ella escuchó la noticia sin parpadear.

B2

She heard the news without blinking.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • pestañear (to blink)

Common Collocations

  • sin parpadear – without blinking / without batting an eye
  • parpadear mucho – to blink a lot

Idioms & Expressions

  • en un abrir y cerrar de ojos – very quickly / in a heartbeat

to flicker

Also: to twinkle
VerbB1regular ar
A single yellow lightbulb with small radiating lines indicating a flickering light.

📝 In Action

La luz del pasillo está parpadeando.

B1

The hallway light is flickering.

Las estrellas parpadean en el cielo nocturno.

B1

The stars twinkle in the night sky.

La pantalla de la computadora empezó a parpadear.

B2

The computer screen started to flicker.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • titilar (to twinkle)
  • centellear (to sparkle/flash)

Common Collocations

  • luz parpadeante – flickering light

Subjunctive

Imperfect Subjunctive

yoparpadeara
túparpadearas
él/ella/ustedparpadeara
nosotrosparpadeáramos
vosotrosparpadearais
ellos/ellas/ustedesparpadearan

Present Subjunctive

yoparpadee
túparpadees
él/ella/ustedparpadee
nosotrosparpadeemos
vosotrosparpadeéis
ellos/ellas/ustedesparpadeen

Indicative

Preterite

yoparpadeé
túparpadeaste
él/ella/ustedparpadeó
nosotrosparpadeamos
vosotrosparpadeasteis
ellos/ellas/ustedesparpadearon

Imperfect

yoparpadeaba
túparpadeabas
él/ella/ustedparpadeaba
nosotrosparpadeábamos
vosotrosparpadeabais
ellos/ellas/ustedesparpadeaban

Present

yoparpadeo
túparpadeas
él/ella/ustedparpadea
nosotrosparpadeamos
vosotrosparpadeáis
ellos/ellas/ustedesparpadean
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "parpadear" in Spanish:

to blink→to flicker→to twinkle→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: parpadear

Question 1 of 3

Which sentence means 'The stars are twinkling'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
el parpadeo(the blink / the flickering) — Noun
parpadeante(flickering / blinking) — Adjective
el párpado(eyelid) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From 'párpado' (eyelid), which comes from the Latin 'palpebra'. The action implies the movement of the eyelids.

First recorded: 13th Century

Cognates (Related words)

English: palpable (related to 'palpate' or feel/throb)Portuguese: pestanejar

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'parpadear' and 'pestañear'?

They are mostly interchangeable. 'Parpadear' is used for both eyes and flickering lights, while 'pestañear' is almost exclusively for eyes (related to 'pestañas' or eyelashes).

Is it 'parpadear' or 'parpedear'?

It is always 'parpadear', with an 'a' in the middle, coming from the word 'párpado' (eyelid).

Can 'parpadear' mean to wink?

Not exactly. Blinking (parpadear) involves both eyes. Winking (closing one eye intentionally) is 'guiñar un ojo'.