predominar
“predominar” means “to predominate” in Spanish (to be more frequent or noticeable).
to predominate
Also: to prevail, to stand out
📝 In Action
En esta pintura predominan los tonos azules y verdes.
B1In this painting, blue and green tones stand out the most.
En el norte del país, predomina un clima muy frío.
B2In the north of the country, a very cold climate prevails.
A pesar de la discusión, predominó el sentido común.
C1Despite the argument, common sense prevailed.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: predominar
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence correctly uses 'predominar' to describe a painting?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From Latin 'praedominari', which combines 'prae' (before/above) and 'dominari' (to rule). It literally means to have more power or presence than others.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'predominar' a common word in daily conversation?
It's slightly more formal than 'haber más de'. You might not use it to talk about groceries, but you'll hear it constantly in news reports, weather forecasts, or academic settings.
What is the difference between 'prevalecer' and 'predominar'?
They are very similar! 'Prevalecer' is often used for abstract ideas (like truth or justice winning), while 'predominar' is more common for physical frequency (like colors or climates).
Can I use it for people?
Usually, we use it for groups of people or qualities. You could say 'En la fiesta predominaban los jóvenes', meaning most people there were young.