Inklingo
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practicar

prak-ti-KARprak.tiˈkaɾ

to practice, to rehearse

VerbA2regular (with spelling change in certain forms) ar
A young child sitting on a chair, concentrating intensely while repeatedly strumming a small acoustic guitar.
infinitivepracticar
gerundpracticando
past Participlepracticado

📝 In Action

Necesitas practicar la guitarra todos los días para mejorar.

A2

You need to practice the guitar every day to improve.

Ellos están practicando su presentación para mañana.

B1

They are rehearsing their presentation for tomorrow.

¿Practicas algún deporte?

A2

Do you play/practice any sport?

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • practicar un idioma – to practice a language
  • practicar la natación – to swim (as a sport)

to observe, to engage in, to carry out

VerbB1regular (with spelling change) ar
A person sitting cross-legged in a quiet, sunlit room, meditating with their eyes closed, representing the observance of a custom.

📝 In Action

Ella practica la medicina en una clínica rural.

B1

She practices medicine in a rural clinic.

Mi familia practica la religión católica.

B1

My family observes/practices the Catholic religion.

El gobierno decidió practicar una nueva política económica.

C1

The government decided to carry out a new economic policy.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • ejercer (to practice (a profession))
  • profesar (to profess (a belief))

Common Collocations

  • practicar el ayuno – to fast
  • practicar el bien – to do good

to perform, to conduct, to administer

VerbC1regular (with spelling change) arformal
A surgeon wearing blue scrubs, a mask, and a cap, holding a small surgical instrument precisely in their hands, ready to perform a procedure.

📝 In Action

El cirujano debe practicar la operación esta tarde.

C1

The surgeon must perform the operation this afternoon.

La policía practicó un registro en la casa del sospechoso.

C2

The police conducted a search of the suspect's house.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • practicar una autopsia – to perform an autopsy
  • practicar un descuento – to apply a discount

Indicative

Present

yopractico
túpracticas
él/ella/ustedpractica
nosotrospracticamos
vosotrospracticáis
ellos/ellas/ustedespractican

Imperfect

yopracticaba
túpracticabas
él/ella/ustedpracticaba
nosotrospracticábamos
vosotrospracticabais
ellos/ellas/ustedespracticaban

Preterite

yopractiqué
túpracticaste
él/ella/ustedpracticó
nosotrospracticamos
vosotrospracticasteis
ellos/ellas/ustedespracticaron

Subjunctive

Present Subjunctive

yopractique
túpractiques
él/ella/ustedpractique
nosotrospractiquemos
vosotrospractiquéis
ellos/ellas/ustedespractiquen

Imperfect Subjunctive

yopracticara
túpracticaras
él/ella/ustedpracticara
nosotrospracticáramos
vosotrospracticarais
ellos/ellas/ustedespracticaran
View All Tenses & Moods →

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✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: practicar

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'practicar' in the sense of performing a formal procedure?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
la práctica(practice / training (noun)) — Noun
práctico(practical / handy (adjective)) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes directly from the Latin word *practicare*, which itself derived from the Greek *praktikos*, meaning 'fit for action' or 'concerned with action'. It has always been connected to performing or doing something.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: to practiceFrench: pratiquer

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Frequently Asked Questions

How is 'practicar' different from 'entrenar'?

'Practicar' means to do something repeatedly to gain skill (like playing piano). 'Entrenar' means to train, usually focusing on physical conditioning or specific instruction for a competition or job.

Can I use 'practicar' for practicing my job, like a lawyer?

Yes, absolutely. The phrase 'practicar la abogacía' (to practice law) is very common, using the B1/C1 meaning of performing a profession.