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

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

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

imperfect

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

preterite

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

subjunctive

present

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

imperfect

él/ella/ustedpracticara
yopracticara
túpracticaras
ellos/ellas/ustedespracticaran
nosotrospracticáramos
vosotrospracticarais
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.