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pulsar

pool-SAHRpulˈsaɾ

“pulsar” means “to press” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:

to press, to click

Also: to tap
VerbA2regular ar
Spain
A close-up of a human finger pressing down on a single, large, round red button.
gerundpulsando
past Participlepulsado
infinitivepulsar

📝 In Action

Pulsa el botón rojo para detener la máquina.

A2

Press the red button to stop the machine.

Debes pulsar la tecla Enter en el teclado.

A2

You must press the Enter key on the keyboard.

Para ver el video, pulsa en el icono de reproducción.

B1

To see the video, click on the play icon.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • pulsar un botón – to press a button
  • pulsar una tecla – to press a key

to feel the pulse, to gauge

Also: to probe
VerbB2regular ar
A person's index and middle fingers resting on another person's wrist to check their pulse.
gerundpulsando
past Participlepulsado
infinitivepulsar

📝 In Action

La enfermera pulsó la muñeca del paciente.

B2

The nurse felt the patient's wrist pulse.

El periodista quería pulsar la opinión pública antes de las elecciones.

C1

The journalist wanted to gauge public opinion before the elections.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • tantear (to feel out/test)
  • sondear (to sound out/survey)

Common Collocations

  • pulsar la opinión – to gauge opinion
  • pulsar el ambiente – to test the atmosphere

to pluck, to touch

VerbC1regular arformal
A hand plucking the nylon strings of a classical guitar.

📝 In Action

Comenzó a pulsar las cuerdas de la guitarra con suavidad.

C1

He began to pluck the guitar strings gently.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • tañer (to play (strings/bells))
  • tocar (to play/touch)

Subjunctive

Imperfect Subjunctive

yopulsara
túpulsaras
él/ella/ustedpulsara
nosotrospulsáramos
vosotrospulsarais
ellos/ellas/ustedespulsaran

Present Subjunctive

yopulse
túpulses
él/ella/ustedpulse
nosotrospulsemos
vosotrospulséis
ellos/ellas/ustedespulsen

Indicative

Preterite

yopulsé
túpulsaste
él/ella/ustedpulsó
nosotrospulsamos
vosotrospulsasteis
ellos/ellas/ustedespulsaron

Imperfect

yopulsaba
túpulsabas
él/ella/ustedpulsaba
nosotrospulsábamos
vosotrospulsabais
ellos/ellas/ustedespulsaban

Present

yopulso
túpulsas
él/ella/ustedpulsa
nosotrospulsamos
vosotrospulsáis
ellos/ellas/ustedespulsan
View All Tenses & Moods →

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✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: pulsar

Question 1 of 3

Which verb would you use to tell someone to press the 'Start' button?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
pulso(pulse/wrist) — Noun
pulsación(pulsation/keystroke) — Noun
pulsador(push-button) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin 'pulsare', which means to beat, strike, or knock. It is related to the word for 'pulse' because your heart 'strikes' against your arteries.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: pulseFrench: pousser

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'púlsar' the same as 'pulsar'?

No. 'Pulsar' (without an accent) is the verb meaning to press. 'Púlsar' (with an accent) is a noun referring to a type of star in space.

Can I use 'pulsar' for clicking a link on a website?

Yes! You can say 'pulsa en el enlace' to mean 'click on the link'.

What is the difference between 'pulsar' and 'presionar'?

'Pulsar' is usually a quick, momentary touch (like a doorbell). 'Presionar' implies applying more continuous pressure or force.