vigila
vee-HEE-lah
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
El perro vigila la casa de noche.
A1The dog guards the house at night.
Ella siempre vigila que todo esté en orden antes de irse.
A2She always checks (monitors) that everything is in order before leaving.
¡Vigila que nadie entre al almacén!
B1Watch (make sure) that no one enters the warehouse!
💡 Grammar Points
Two Uses of 'Vigila'
'Vigila' can be a statement about someone else ('Ella vigila' = She watches) OR a command to a friend ('¡Vigila!' = Watch!). Context tells you which one is being used.
Regular -AR Verb
This verb follows the most common Spanish pattern. If you learn 'vigilar,' you can easily conjugate hundreds of other verbs like 'hablar' (to talk) and 'caminar' (to walk).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing the Command Forms
Mistake: "Using 'vigile' when telling a friend what to do."
Correction: For friendly, informal commands, use the 'tú' form: '¡Vigila el perro!'. The 'vigile' form is reserved for formal commands (Usted).
⭐ Usage Tips
More than 'Looking'
Unlike simple 'ver' (to see), 'vigilar' implies active attention, protection, or supervision, often related to safety or security.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: vigila
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'vigila' as a command?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'vigilar' only used for security guards?
No. While it's used for security (vigilante), it's also used in everyday life to mean 'keep an eye on' or 'monitor,' such as watching children or supervising a cooking process.
How is 'vigilar' different from 'mirar'?
'Mirar' means simply 'to look at' or 'to watch' something passively (like watching TV). 'Vigilar' means to watch with a purpose, usually to guard, protect, or supervise carefully.