preservar

pre-ser-BARpɾeseɾˈβaɾ

“preservar” means “to preserve” in Spanish (to keep something in its original state).

to preserve, to protect

Also: to safeguard

VerbB1regular ar

A single bright red strawberry encased inside a clear, solid ice cube, perfectly preserved and fresh.

gerundpreservando

past Participlepreservado

infinitivepreservar

📝 In Action

Debemos preservar la naturaleza para las futuras generaciones.

We must preserve nature for future generations.

El frío ayuda a preservar los alimentos por más tiempo.

The cold helps preserve food for longer.

Es importante preservar nuestras tradiciones culturales.

It is important to preserve our cultural traditions.

Word Connections

Synonyms

proteger (to protect)
conservar (to conserve)

Antonyms

destruir (to destroy)
dañar (to damage)

Common Collocations

preservar el medio ambiente – to preserve the environment
preservar la paz – to preserve peace
preservar la salud – to safeguard health

Subjunctive

Imperfect Subjunctive

yopreservara

túpreservaras

él/ella/ustedpreservara

nosotrospreserváramos

vosotrospreservarais

ellos/ellas/ustedespreservaran

Present Subjunctive

yopreserve

túpreserves

él/ella/ustedpreserve

nosotrospreservemos

vosotrospreservéis

ellos/ellas/ustedespreserven

Indicative

Preterite

yopreservé

túpreservaste

él/ella/ustedpreservó

nosotrospreservamos

vosotrospreservasteis

ellos/ellas/ustedespreservaron

Imperfect

yopreservaba

túpreservabas

él/ella/ustedpreservaba

nosotrospreservábamos

vosotrospreservabais

ellos/ellas/ustedespreservaban

Present

yopreservo

túpreservas

él/ella/ustedpreserva

nosotrospreservamos

vosotrospreserváis

ellos/ellas/ustedespreservan

View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "preservar" in Spanish:

to preserve→to protect→to safeguard→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: preservar

Question 1 of 3

Which of these is the most natural way to say 'to preserve nature'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼

preservación(preservation) — Noun

preservado(preserved) — Adjective

preservativo(condom (False Friend!)) — Noun

🎵 Rhymes▼

hablar llegar bienestar

📚 Etymology▼

From Latin 'praeservare', where 'prae' means 'before' and 'servare' means 'to keep or watch over'. It literally means to keep watch over something beforehand to keep it safe.

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: preserveFrench: préserver

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'preservar' formal?

It is slightly more formal than 'proteger' or 'guardar', but it is very common in news, science, and discussions about culture.

Does 'preservar' change its stem in any tense?

No, it is a completely regular verb. The root 'preserv-' never changes.

Can I use 'preservar' for keeping a secret?

While understandable, 'guardar un secreto' is much more natural in Spanish.