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retratar

rre-tra-TAR/retɾaˈtaɾ/

to take a portrait, to photograph

Also: to paint a portrait
VerbA2regular ar
A photographer looking through a camera lens at a person sitting for a portrait.
gerundretratando
past Participleretratado
infinitiveretratar

📝 In Action

El fotógrafo me retrató ayer en el parque.

A2

The photographer took a portrait of me yesterday in the park.

A Goya le gustaba retratar a la familia real.

B1

Goya liked to paint portraits of the royal family.

No me gusta que me retraten sin avisar.

B2

I don't like being photographed without warning.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • retratar a alguien – to take a portrait of someone
  • dejarse retratar – to allow oneself to be photographed

to portray, to depict

Also: to mirror
VerbB2regular arformal
An artist painting a detailed scene of people walking in a bustling town square.
gerundretratando
past Participleretratado
infinitiveretratar

📝 In Action

La novela retrata muy bien la vida en el campo.

B2

The novel portrays life in the countryside very well.

El director retrató la crisis con mucha crudeza.

C1

The director depicted the crisis with great harshness.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • retratar la realidad – to portray reality
  • retratar fielmente – to portray faithfully

to reveal oneself

Also: to show one's true colors
VerbC1regular ar
A person removing a plain mask to show their happy, genuine face underneath.
gerundretratándose
past Participleretratado
infinitiveretratarse

📝 In Action

Con ese comentario, él mismo se retrató.

C1

With 그 comment, he showed his true colors.

Si no vienes, te estarás retratando como un cobarde.

C1

If you don't come, you'll be showing yourself to be a coward.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • delatarse (to give oneself away)
  • descubrirse (to reveal oneself)

Idioms & Expressions

  • quedar retratado – to have one's true (often bad) nature exposed by their own actions

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesretrataran
yoretratara
túretrataras
vosotrosretratarais
nosotrosretratáramos
él/ella/ustedretratara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesretraten
yoretrate
túretrates
vosotrosretratéis
nosotrosretratemos
él/ella/ustedretrate

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesretrataron
yoretraté
túretrataste
vosotrosretratasteis
nosotrosretratamos
él/ella/ustedretrató

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesretrataban
yoretrataba
túretratabas
vosotrosretratabais
nosotrosretratábamos
él/ella/ustedretrataba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesretratan
yoretrato
túretratas
vosotrosretratáis
nosotrosretratamos
él/ella/ustedretrata
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "retratar" in Spanish:

to depict→to mirror→to photograph→to portray→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: retratar

Question 1 of 3

Which of these is the most natural use of 'retratar'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
retrato(portrait) — Noun
retratista(portrait painter/photographer) — Noun
autorretrato(self-portrait) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin 'retractare', meaning 'to draw back' or 'to look at again'. It evolved from 'retracting' a line to 're-drawing' a likeness.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

French: retraiterItalian: ritrarre

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'retratar' the same as 'sacar una foto'?

Not exactly. 'Sacar una foto' is a general term for taking any photo. 'Retratar' specifically implies a portrait of a person or a very artistic, deliberate capture of someone's likeness.

Can I use 'retratar' for a selfie?

Technically yes, an 'autorretrato' is a self-portrait. However, in casual conversation, people usually say 'hacerse un selfie'.

Does it only refer to photos?

No! It can also refer to paintings, drawings, or even a very detailed description in a book or movie.