Inklingo

How to Say "imported" in Spanish

English → Spanish

extranjeros

/eks-trahn-HEH-rohs//e(k)stɾanˈxeɾos/

adjectiveA2general
Use 'extranjeros' when describing goods or items that have been brought into a country from abroad, functioning as an adjective.
A simple wooden market stall displaying common red apples and yellow bananas. Placed distinctly among them is a single, brightly colored, exotic purple dragon fruit, clearly originating from a different region.

Examples

Me encantan los coches extranjeros.

I love foreign cars.

Estudiamos varios idiomas extranjeros en la escuela.

We study several foreign languages in school.

Recibimos fondos extranjeros para el proyecto.

We received foreign funds for the project.

Adjective Placement

In Spanish, adjectives like 'extranjeros' usually come after the noun they describe. Example: 'productos extranjeros' (foreign products), not 'extranjeros productos'.

Matching the Ending

Mistake: “Compré unos libros extranjeras.”

Correction: Compré unos libros extranjeros. ('Libros' is masculine plural, so the adjective must also be masculine plural.)

importó

verbB1general
Use 'importó' (the preterite tense of 'importar') when talking about the specific act of a person or company bringing goods into a country from abroad.

Examples

La empresa importó café de Colombia.

The company imported coffee from Colombia.

Adjective vs. Verb Confusion

Learners often confuse 'extranjeros' and 'importó' by using the adjective form when they mean the action of importing. Remember, 'extranjeros' describes the items themselves as foreign, while 'importó' refers to the act of importing.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.