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votar

boh-TARboˈtaɾ

“votar” means “to vote” in Spanish (to cast a ballot).

to vote, to cast a vote

Also: to elect
VerbA1regular ar
A close-up view of a person's hand casting a red ballot into a blue election ballot box.
infinitivevotar
gerundvotando
past Participlevotado

📝 In Action

Mañana vamos a votar por el nuevo presidente.

A1

Tomorrow we are going to vote for the new president.

Todos los ciudadanos mayores de edad tienen derecho a votar.

B1

All adult citizens have the right to vote.

El comité votó unánimemente a favor de la propuesta.

C1

The committee voted unanimously in favor of the proposal.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • elegir (to choose)
  • sufragar (to vote (formal))

Common Collocations

  • votar en secreto – to vote in secret
  • votar a favor de – to vote in favor of
  • votar en contra de – to vote against

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedvota
yovoto
túvotas
ellos/ellas/ustedesvotan
nosotrosvotamos
vosotrosvotáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedvotaba
yovotaba
túvotabas
ellos/ellas/ustedesvotaban
nosotrosvotábamos
vosotrosvotabais

preterite

él/ella/ustedvotó
yovoté
túvotaste
ellos/ellas/ustedesvotaron
nosotrosvotamos
vosotrosvotasteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedvote
yovote
túvotes
ellos/ellas/ustedesvoten
nosotrosvotemos
vosotrosvotéis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedvotara/votase
yovotara/votase
túvotaras/votases
ellos/ellas/ustedesvotaran/votasen
nosotrosvotáramos/votásemos
vosotrosvotarais/votaseis
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "votar" in Spanish:

to elect→to vote→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: votar

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'votar'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
el voto(the vote / the ballot) — Noun
la votación(the voting / the election) — Noun
el votante(the voter) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word *votum*, which originally meant 'a solemn promise, wish, or vow.' Over time, the meaning evolved to specifically refer to expressing one's wish or choice in a formal setting.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: votareFrench: voter

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Frequently Asked Questions

¿Cuál es la diferencia entre 'votar' y 'botar'?

The difference is crucial! 'Votar' (with a 'v') means to participate in an election or a formal decision (to vote). 'Botar' (with a 'b') means to throw away trash, to bounce a ball, or to fire someone.