Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Teach in Spanish: Enseñar
Enseñar · verb · ehn-seh-NYAR
The primary Spanish translation for 'teach' is enseñar, a first-conjugation (-ar) verb that pulls double duty: it means both 'to teach' and 'to show.' Context almost always makes the meaning clear. When you say Le enseñé matemáticas, it means 'I taught her math,' but Le enseñé mi casa means 'I showed her my house.' For more formal or specific contexts, you can use instruir (to instruct), dar clases (to give classes), or educar (to educate in a broader sense).
Enseñar is pronounced ehn-seh-NYAR. The ñ produces a palatal nasal sound similar to the 'ny' in 'canyon.' Stress falls on the final syllable. In conjugated forms like enseño (I teach), the stress shifts: ehn-SEH-nyoh.
Mi abuela me enseñó a cocinar cuando era niña.
My grandmother taught me to cook when I was a little girl.
Teach in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for teach, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| enseñar | teach | ehn-seh-NYAR | Default, widely understood |
| instruir | teach | Formal or academic contexts | |
| dar clases | teach | Common phrase meaning 'to give classes,' used across all regions | |
| educar | teach | Broader sense of educating or raising someone |
How Native Speakers Use Enseñar
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Professional context
Ella enseña historia en la universidad desde hace diez años.
She has been teaching history at the university for ten years.
Desde hace + time period expresses duration up to the present. Enseñar takes a direct object (historia) for the subject taught.
Showing something
Ven, te enseño las fotos del viaje.
Come, I'll show you the photos from the trip.
Here enseñar means 'to show,' its secondary meaning. The indirect object pronoun te indicates who is being shown the photos.
Asking someone to teach you
¿Me puedes enseñar a tocar la guitarra?
Can you teach me to play the guitar?
The structure enseñar a + infinitive means 'to teach someone to do something.' The preposition a is required before the infinitive.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Enseñar
Omitting the preposition a before an infinitive
Incorrect: Mi padre me enseñó manejar.
Correct: Mi padre me enseñó a manejar.
When enseñar is followed by an infinitive, the preposition a is required: enseñar a + infinitive. Omitting it is a common error among English speakers because 'teach to drive' doesn't require a preposition in English.
Confusing enseñar with aprender
Incorrect: Quiero enseñar español antes de viajar.
Correct: Quiero aprender español antes de viajar.
Enseñar means 'to teach,' while aprender means 'to learn.' If you want to learn Spanish, you need aprender. This mix-up is similar to the English 'teach/learn' confusion.
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Why word lists alone don't stick
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See Enseñar used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Teach in Spanish
- Does enseñar mean 'to teach' or 'to show'?
- Both. Enseñar has two core meanings: 'to teach' (knowledge or skills) and 'to show' (something physical or visual). Context makes the distinction clear. Enseñar matemáticas means 'to teach math,' while enseñar el camino means 'to show the way.'
- What is the difference between enseñar and educar?
- Enseñar focuses on transmitting specific knowledge or skills — teaching a subject, a technique, or showing how something works. Educar is broader and refers to the overall process of educating or raising someone, including values and behavior. A teacher enseña a class; parents educan their children.
- How do you conjugate enseñar in the present tense?
- Enseñar is a regular -ar verb: yo enseño, tú enseñas, él/ella enseña, nosotros enseñamos, vosotros enseñáis, ellos/ellas enseñan. It follows the same pattern as hablar, cantar, and other -ar verbs with no stem changes.