How to Say "it matters" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “it matters” is “importa” — use 'importa' for general statements about something being important or not important, often in the present tense..
importa
/im-POR-ta//imˈpoɾ.ta/
Examples
No importa, podemos intentarlo de nuevo mañana.
It doesn't matter, we can try again tomorrow.
¿Te importa si cierro la puerta? Hace frío.
Do you mind if I close the door? It's cold.
A mis padres les importa mucho que yo estudie.
It matters a lot to my parents that I study.
A 'Backwards' Verb, Like 'Gustar'
This verb often works 'backwards' from English. Instead of saying 'I care about your opinion', you say 'A mí me importa tu opinión' (To me, your opinion matters). The thing that matters is the star of the sentence.
Forgetting 'Me', 'Te', 'Le'
Mistake: “A mí importa la familia.”
Correction: A mí me importa la familia. You need the little word (me, te, le, nos, os, les) to show *who* it matters to.
importe
im-POR-teh/imˈpoɾte/
Examples
Espero que no importe si llego cinco minutos tarde.
I hope it doesn't matter if I arrive five minutes late.
No creo que importe lo que diga la prensa.
I don't think what the press says is important.
¡Que no te importe lo que piensen los demás!
Don't let what others think matter to you!
The 'Gustar' Structure
The verb 'importar' usually works like 'gustar'. We often say 'Me importa' (It matters to me) instead of 'Yo importo' (I matter) to express that something is important to us.
Triggering the Subjunctive
When expressing doubt, desire, or opinion about whether something is important, you must use the special verb form 'importe'. For example, 'Dudo que importe' (I doubt it matters).
Using the wrong form with 'I'
Mistake: “Saying 'Yo importo' when you mean 'It matters to me'.”
Correction: Use 'A mí me importa' (It matters to me) or 'Me importa' (It matters to me). 'Yo importo' is only used if you mean 'I import goods'.
significa
/sig-nee-FEE-kah//siɣ.niˈfi.ka/
Examples
Tu amistad significa mucho para mí.
Your friendship means a lot to me.
Para un atleta, ganar una medalla significa todo.
For an athlete, winning a medal means everything.
La paloma blanca significa la paz.
The white dove represents peace.
Importa vs. Significa
Related Translations
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