Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Explain in Spanish: Explicar
Explicar · verb · ehks-plee-KAHR
Explicar is the Spanish verb for explain, meaning to make something clear or understandable through description or reasoning.
ehks-plee-KAHR
¿Puedes explicar cómo funciona este programa?
Can you explain how this program works?
Explain in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for explain, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| explicar | explain | ehks-plee-KAHR | Default, widely understood |
| aclarar | explain | to clarify or make clear |
How Native Speakers Use Explicar
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Classroom
La profesora explicó la lección con mucha paciencia.
The teacher explained the lesson with a lot of patience.
Describing a positive classroom experience.
Request for clarity
Explícame por qué tomaste esa decisión.
Explain to me why you made that decision.
Asking for justification behind a choice.
Directions
Le expliqué cómo llegar al hospital.
I explained to him how to get to the hospital.
Helping a stranger with directions.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Explicar
Confusing explicar with explanar
Incorrect: Déjame explanar mi punto de vista.
Correct: Déjame explicar mi punto de vista.
Explanar is not standard in modern Spanish — explicar is the correct and universally understood verb for 'to explain.'
Forgetting the accent in imperative
Incorrect: Explicame tu idea.
Correct: Explícame tu idea.
When adding the pronoun me to the imperative explica, the accent shifts and must be written: explícame.
Lock in Explain 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 Explicar used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using explicar in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear ¿Puedes explicar cómo funciona este programa? while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Explain in Spanish
- How do you say 'explain' in Spanish?
- The verb is explicar, conjugated regularly in most tenses — for example, explico (I explain), expliqué (I explained), explicaré (I will explain).
- How do I ask someone to explain something?
- You can say ¿Puedes explicar eso? (Can you explain that?) or the more direct ¿Me lo explicas? (Can you explain it to me?).
- What is the noun form of explicar?
- The noun is explicación, meaning explanation — for example, Necesito una explicación clara means I need a clear explanation.