Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Draw in Spanish: Dibujar
Dibujar · verb · dee-boo-HAHR
Dibujar is the Spanish verb for draw in the artistic sense — creating images with pencils, pens, or other tools on a surface. The English word 'draw' has many meanings that each require different Spanish verbs: 'empatar' for a tie in sports, 'sacar' for pulling something out, and 'atraer' for drawing attention. Mastering these distinctions prevents common translation errors.
dee-boo-HAHR
Mi hija sabe dibujar retratos increíblemente realistas.
My daughter can draw incredibly realistic portraits.
Draw in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for draw, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| dibujar | draw | dee-boo-HAHR | Default, widely understood |
| empatar | draw | draw/tie in sports | |
| sacar | draw | draw out/pull |
How Native Speakers Use Dibujar
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Art
Aprendí a dibujar con carboncillo en mi clase de bellas artes.
I learned to draw with charcoal in my fine arts class.
Learning artistic technique.
Sports tie
Los dos equipos empataron dos a dos en el último minuto.
Both teams drew two-two in the last minute.
Reporting a sports result.
Drawing a weapon
El vaquero sacó su pistola rápidamente.
The cowboy drew his gun quickly.
Western film action scene.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Dibujar
Using dibujar for sports tie
Incorrect: El partido dibujó en cero a cero.
Correct: El partido empató en cero a cero.
Dibujar only means to draw pictures. For a tied result in sports, the verb is 'empatar.' These meanings have no connection in Spanish despite sharing the word 'draw' in English.
Using dibujar for pulling
Incorrect: Dibujó las cortinas para dejar entrar la luz.
Correct: Abrió las cortinas para dejar entrar la luz.
Drawing curtains open in English becomes 'abrir las cortinas' (open the curtains) in Spanish. The physical motion of pulling does not use 'dibujar,' which is exclusively for creating visual art.
Lock in Draw Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Dibujar used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using dibujar in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Mi hija sabe dibujar retratos increíblemente realistas. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
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Common Questions About Draw in Spanish
- How many Spanish verbs correspond to 'draw' in English?
- The English verb 'draw' maps to at least five different Spanish verbs depending on context: dibujar (create art), empatar (tie in sports), sacar (pull out), atraer (draw attention), and trazar (draw a line or plan). Each covers a distinct meaning that English collapses into one word.
- What is the difference between dibujar and pintar?
- Dibujar means to draw — creating images with lines using pencils, pens, or charcoal. Pintar means to paint — applying color with brushes and paint. A pencil sketch is a dibujo, while an oil painting on canvas is a pintura. The distinction mirrors the English draw/paint difference.
- How do you say 'draw a conclusion' in Spanish?
- To draw a conclusion is 'sacar una conclusión' or 'llegar a una conclusión' in Spanish. Neither uses 'dibujar.' The verb 'sacar' (to pull out, extract) captures the metaphor of extracting meaning from evidence, which is how Spanish conceptualizes this abstract process.