How to Say "inspect" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “inspect” is “revisar” — use 'revisar' when you need to check or examine something, often in a formal or official capacity, or simply to look over something like emails or documents..
revisar
rreh-vee-SAHR/re.βiˈsaɾ/
Examples
Necesito revisar mi correo electrónico antes de irme a casa.
I need to check my email before going home.
La policía revisó todas las maletas en el aeropuerto.
The police inspected all the suitcases at the airport.
El doctor quiere revisar tus resultados de laboratorio.
The doctor wants to examine your lab results.
Direct Use
Like many Spanish verbs, 'revisar' takes the action directly onto the thing being checked (the direct object). You don't need an extra preposition like 'at' or 'for'.
Confusing 'Revisar' and 'Revisar'
Mistake: “Using 'revisar' when you mean 'to look at' or 'to see' something quickly (mirar).”
Correction: 'Revisar' implies a thorough check or inspection, not just a casual look.
controlar
kohn-troh-LAHR/kon.tɾoˈlaɾ/
Examples
El guardia controló mi billete en la entrada del museo.
The guard checked my ticket at the museum entrance.
Tenemos que controlar los datos semanalmente para ver si hay errores.
We have to monitor the data weekly to see if there are errors.
reconocer
/reh-koh-neh-SEHR//re.ko.neˈθeɾ/
Examples
El médico tiene que reconocer al paciente antes de dar un diagnóstico.
The doctor has to examine the patient before giving a diagnosis.
Enviaron una patrulla para reconocer la zona fronteriza.
They sent a patrol to survey the border area.
Choosing between Revisar and Controlar
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