Inklingo

How to Say "to learn" in Spanish

English → Spanish

aprender

/ah-prehn-DEHR//apɾenˈdeɾ/

verbA1general
Use 'aprender' when you are talking about acquiring any new knowledge, skill, or information, from a language to a hobby.
A colorful storybook illustration showing a simplified character, a happy child, sitting with an open book. A bright, glowing lightbulb floats directly above their head, symbolizing a new idea or moment of learning.

Examples

¿Dónde puedo aprender español?

Where can I learn Spanish?

Mi hijo está aprendiendo a leer en la escuela.

My son is learning to read at school.

Aprendimos la noticia por la radio esta mañana.

We found out the news on the radio this morning.

Learning a Skill (aprender A)

When you learn HOW to do something (a skill, like cooking or swimming), you must always put the word 'a' right before the action verb: 'aprender a + verb.' Example: 'Aprendió a nadar.'

Learning a Fact (aprender Ø)

When you learn a piece of information or a language, you do NOT use 'a.' You go straight to the thing you learned. Example: 'Aprendió la historia.' or 'Aprendió inglés.'

Forgetting 'a'

Mistake: “Quiero aprender cocinar.”

Correction: Quiero aprender a cocinar. (The 'a' is essential when learning a skill.)

estudiar

es-too-dee-AR/estuˈðjaɾ/

verbA1academic
Use 'estudiar' specifically when referring to the act of studying academic subjects, a course of study, or preparing for a test or exam.
A young student sitting at a wooden desk with a large open textbook and a pencil, concentrating intently on reading.

Examples

Necesito estudiar para el examen de mañana.

I need to study for tomorrow's exam.

¿Qué estás estudiando en la universidad?

What are you studying at the university?

Estudiamos hasta tarde anoche.

We studied late last night.

Regular -AR Verb

Estudiar is a completely regular verb. This means it follows the easiest conjugation pattern. Just remove the '-ar' and add the standard endings!

Estudiar vs. Aprender

Mistake: “Usando 'estudiar' cuando se quiere decir 'aprender'.”

Correction: Use 'estudiar' when talking about the *process* of putting in effort (reading, practicing). Use 'aprender' when talking about the *result* (gaining the knowledge). Example: 'Estudio español para aprender a hablarlo' (I study Spanish in order to learn to speak it).

Aprender vs. Estudiar

The most common mistake is using 'estudiar' when you mean 'to learn' in a general sense. Remember, 'estudiar' is for academic or exam preparation. If you're acquiring a new skill or general knowledge, 'aprender' is the correct choice.

Related Translations

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