Explicar: to explain
Pronunciation: ehks-plee-KAHR (stress the capital letters)
Explicar means “to explain” in English.
Quick answer
- Meaning: to explain
- How to say it: ehks-plee-KAHR
- Present: yo explico, tú explicas
- Level: Elementary (A2)
What “explicar” means and how to use it
Explicar means “to explain.” The listener is introduced with “a” or replaced by me, te, le.
How to conjugate “explicar”
| Who | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | explico | I |
| tú | explicas | you (informal) |
| él, ella, usted | explica | he, she, you (formal) |
| nosotros | explicamos | we |
| ellos, ustedes | explican | they, you all |
| Past (preterite) | yo expliqué, él explicó | I / he or she |
| Past participle | explicado | used with haber |
Examples with audio
- Te explico cómo funciona.I explain to you how it works.
- ¿Puedes explicar esta palabra?Can you explain this word?
- La maestra explicó la lección.The teacher explained the lesson.
Usage tip
The first person past is spelled “expliqué” to keep the hard k sound. Spanish uses “explicar” without “to” before the person: te explico, not “explico a ti.”
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “to explain” in Spanish?
“to explain” in Spanish is “explicar.” It is pronounced ehks-plee-KAHR, with the stress on the syllable in capital letters.
How do you pronounce “explicar”?
Say ehks-plee-KAHR. The syllable in capital letters gets the stress. Press the speaker button at the top of this page to hear it.
What is the past tense of “explicar”?
In the preterite, “yo” is “expliqué” and “él” is “explicó.” The past participle is “explicado.”
Practice “explicar” for free
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