reflejar

re-fleh-HARrefleˈxaɾ

“reflejar” means “to reflect” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

to reflect🔊A2Verb

light, images, or sound bouncing off a surface

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to reflect🔊B2Verb

to show or demonstrate a quality, feeling, or fact

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to reflect

Also: to shine back

VerbA2regular ar

A bright sun shining over a calm blue mountain lake, with the mountains perfectly visible on the water's surface.

gerundreflejando

past Participlereflejado

infinitivereflejar

📝 In Action

El espejo refleja la luz del sol.

The mirror reflects the sunlight.

Las montañas se reflejan en el agua del lago.

The mountains are reflected in the lake water.

Si limpias el metal, volverá a reflejar tu imagen.

If you clean the metal, it will reflect your image again.

Word Connections

Synonyms

proyectar (to project)

Antonyms

absorber (to absorb)

Common Collocations

reflejar la luz – to reflect light
reflejarse en el espejo – to be reflected in the mirror

to reflect

Also: to manifest

VerbB2regular ar

A child with a wide, happy smile, showing joy on their face.

gerundreflejando

past Participlereflejado

infinitivereflejar

📝 In Action

Sus palabras reflejan una gran sabiduría.

Her words reflect great wisdom.

El informe no refleja la realidad de la situación.

The report does not reflect the reality of the situation.

La caída de las ventas refleja la crisis económica.

The drop in sales reflects the economic crisis.

Word Connections

Synonyms

mostrar (to show)
manifestar (to manifest/express)

Antonyms

ocultar (to hide)

Common Collocations

reflejar fielmente – to reflect accurately
reflejar un cambio – to reflect a change

Subjunctive

Imperfect Subjunctive

yoreflejara

túreflejaras

él/ella/ustedreflejara

nosotrosreflejáramos

vosotrosreflejarais

ellos/ellas/ustedesreflejaran

Present Subjunctive

yorefleje

túreflejes

él/ella/ustedrefleje

nosotrosreflejemos

vosotrosreflejéis

ellos/ellas/ustedesreflejen

Indicative

Preterite

yoreflejé

túreflejaste

él/ella/ustedreflejó

nosotrosreflejamos

vosotrosreflejasteis

ellos/ellas/ustedesreflejaron

Imperfect

yoreflejaba

túreflejabas

él/ella/ustedreflejaba

nosotrosreflejábamos

vosotrosreflejabais

ellos/ellas/ustedesreflejaban

Present

yoreflejo

túreflejas

él/ella/ustedrefleja

nosotrosreflejamos

vosotrosreflejáis

ellos/ellas/ustedesreflejan

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Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "reflejar" in Spanish:

to manifest→to reflect→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: reflejar

Question 1 of 3

If you look at a lake and see the trees in the water, the trees are:

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼

reflejo(reflection) — Noun

reflexivo(reflective) — Adjective

irreflexivo(thoughtless) — Adjective

🎵 Rhymes▼

dibujar viajar bajar

📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'reflectere', which combines 're-' (back) and 'flectere' (to bend). Literally, it meant 'to bend back'.

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: reflectFrench: refléter

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'reflejar' and 'reflexionar'?

'Reflejar' is used when a surface shows an image or when data shows a trend. 'Reflexionar' means to think deeply or meditate on a topic.

Is 'reflejar' a regular verb?

Yes! It follows the standard rules for all verbs ending in -ar in all tenses.

Can I use 'reflejar' for feelings?

Absolutely. You can say 'Su cara refleja felicidad' (His face reflects/shows happiness).