sembrar
“sembrar” means “to sow” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to sow, to plant
Also: to seed
📝 In Action
Es el momento perfecto para sembrar las semillas de tomate.
A2It is the perfect time to sow the tomato seeds.
Los agricultores siembran el trigo en otoño.
B1The farmers plant the wheat in autumn.
Si siembras ahora, cosecharás en unos meses.
B1If you sow now, you will harvest in a few months.
to spread, to instill
Also: to scatter
📝 In Action
Sus comentarios siembran la duda entre los empleados.
B2His comments spread doubt among the employees.
El villano quería sembrar el pánico en la ciudad.
B2The villain wanted to spread panic in the city.
Es importante sembrar valores en los niños desde pequeños.
C1It is important to instill values in children from a young age.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "sembrar" in Spanish:
to instill→to plant→to scatter→to seed→to sow→to spread→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: sembrar
Question 1 of 3
Which form of 'sembrar' is correct for 'I sow'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'seminare', meaning to sow or produce. This comes from 'semen', which means seed.
First recorded: 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does the spelling change in the past tense?
No. The 'e' to 'ie' change only happens in the Present Indicative, Present Subjunctive, and Imperative. The Preterite (past) is regular: sembré, sembraste, sembró.
Can I use 'sembrar' for putting flowers in a pot?
Usually, you would use 'plantar' for flowers that are already growing. If you are starting them from tiny seeds, you can use 'sembrar'.
What is a 'siembra'?
A 'siembra' is the noun form. It can mean the act of sowing, the seeds that have been sown, or the specific time of year when planting happens.