pintar
/peen-TAR/
to paint
When we use a roller to apply color to a wall, we are using the verb pintar.
pintar(verb)
to paint
?applying color to a wall/house
to color
?coloring a drawing book
📝 In Action
Tenemos que pintar la cocina de azul.
A1We have to paint the kitchen blue.
Mi padre pintó toda la casa el verano pasado.
A2My father painted the whole house last summer.
💡 Grammar Points
Regular AR Verb
Pintar follows the easiest conjugation pattern in Spanish. Just drop the -ar and add the standard endings for each tense.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use 'de' for Color
When saying what color you paint something, use 'de' (of): 'Pintamos la sala de verde' (We painted the living room green).
Pintar also describes the act of creating artwork with paint.
pintar(verb)
to paint
?creating a picture/artwork
,to draw
?creating an image
to depict
?representing something
📝 In Action
Picasso pintó obras muy famosas.
A2Picasso painted very famous works.
¿Qué estás pintando? Parece un paisaje hermoso.
A2What are you painting? It looks like a beautiful landscape.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Drawing vs. Painting
Mistake: "Using 'dibujar' for applying paint/color."
Correction: 'Dibujar' (to draw) is for line work, pencil, or sketches. 'Pintar' is for applying paint or color, even if it's a sketch.
When someone uses makeup, they use the reflexive form of the verb, pintarse.
pintar(verb)
to put on makeup
?applying cosmetics to oneself (pintarse)
to put on nail polish
?applying varnish to nails (pintarse las uñas)
,to put on lipstick
?applying lipstick (pintarse los labios)
📝 In Action
Ella se pinta muy rápido antes de salir.
B1She puts on her makeup very quickly before leaving.
Me voy a pintar las uñas de rojo para la fiesta.
B1I'm going to paint my nails red for the party.
💡 Grammar Points
Reflexive Use
When you use 'pintar' on yourself (like makeup or nails), you must use the reflexive form: 'pintarse'. This means you need a pronoun like 'me', 'te', 'se', etc.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up 'pintar' and 'pintarse'
Mistake: "Yo pinto la cara. (I paint the face [of someone else])."
Correction: Yo me pinto la cara. (I paint my own face/put on my own makeup). Remember the reflexive pronoun 'me' when the action comes back to you.
In Spanish, pintar can mean 'to be relevant,' often used negatively like no pinta nada (it's not relevant).
pintar(verb)
to be relevant
?usually negative: no pinta nada (it's not relevant)
,to look like
?to seem or appear
to play a role
?figurative usage
📝 In Action
Este mueble aquí no pinta nada, deberíamos quitarlo.
B2This piece of furniture doesn't belong here at all; we should remove it. (Literally: it doesn't paint anything)
El día pinta bien, creo que no lloverá.
C1The day looks good, I think it won't rain.
💡 Grammar Points
Idiomatic Use
This meaning is almost always used in the phrase 'no pintar nada' to mean something is out of place or irrelevant. It's a very common, informal way to express that something 'doesn't fit'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Figurative Meaning
Think of this meaning as: 'This item/person doesn't contribute color to the scene.' Use it when someone is standing around awkwardly or an object is unnecessary.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: pintar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'pintar' in its figurative, informal meaning?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'pintar' and 'dibujar'?
'Pintar' means to apply color, usually using a wet medium like paint or makeup. 'Dibujar' means to draw, usually with lines or pencils, even if you fill in the lines afterward. If you are using oil or acrylic, always use 'pintar'.
Is 'pintar' always regular?
Yes, 'pintar' is a completely regular -AR verb in all tenses, making it one of the easiest verbs to learn and conjugate.