Inklingo

How to Say "to display" in Spanish

English → Spanish

mostrar

mo-STRAR/mosˈtɾaɾ/

verbA1general
Use 'mostrar' when you are putting something on view for someone to see, like an object or information.
A child holding up a bright red apple to an adult who is smiling, clearly displaying the object.

Examples

¿Puedes mostrarme tu pasaporte, por favor?

Can you show me your passport, please?

El museo muestra arte prehispánico.

The museum displays pre-Hispanic art.

Ella me mostró el camino a la salida.

She showed me the way to the exit.

The Special Vowel Change

In the present tense, the 'o' in the middle changes to 'ue' when the ending is stressed: yo muestro, tú muestras. BUT, for 'nosotros' and 'vosotros', it stays 'o': nosotros mostramos.

Forgetting the 'ue' change

Mistake: “Yo mostro mi casa.”

Correction: Yo muestro mi casa. Remember the 'o' becomes 'ue' in the singular forms and 'ellos/ellas/ustedes' form.

enseñar

verbA2general
Use 'enseñar' when you are exhibiting or showing something to someone, often in the context of a guided tour or revealing a place.

Examples

El guía nos enseñó la catedral antigua.

The guide showed us the old cathedral.

demostrar

deh-mohs-TRAR/demoˈstɾaɾ/

verbB1general
Use 'demostrar' to indicate exhibiting a quality, skill, or characteristic, especially one that is internal or abstract.
A cheerful person with a wide smile and open arms, clearly demonstrating joy and affection towards another person off-frame.

Examples

Ella nunca demuestra sus emociones en público.

She never shows her emotions in public.

El equipo demostró gran habilidad durante el partido.

The team displayed great skill during the match.

Quiero que me demuestres respeto.

I want you to show me respect.

Using 'Demostrar' with Emotions

When talking about feelings, demostrar often takes the place of the simpler verb mostrar to emphasize that the feeling is clearly expressed or made visible to others.

presentar

preh-sehn-TAHR/pɾesenˈtaɾ/

verbB2formal
Use 'presentar' when formally introducing or unveiling something, particularly an artistic work or a project.
A person standing on a small stage under a spotlight, presenting a new product in a colorful box to an unseen audience.

Examples

El director presentará la nueva película la próxima semana.

The director will present the new movie next week.

Ella presenta un programa de noticias por las mañanas.

She hosts a news program in the mornings.

Mostrar vs. Demostrar

Learners often confuse 'mostrar' (to show an object) and 'demostrar' (to show a quality). Remember that 'mostrar' is for physical things you can see, while 'demostrar' is for abstract qualities or evidence.

Related Translations

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