explicar

∗ ≈

to explain

∗ verb

explicar
transitive verb
1 to explain (exponer, contar) ; to expound (teoría)
  • ¿te importaría explicarme qué pasa? -> would you mind telling me o explaining what's going on?
  • explícame cómo funciona -> tell me how it works
2 to teach, to lecture in (enseñar)
explicarse
pronomial verb
1 to understand (comprender)
  • no me lo explico -> I can't understand it
2 to explain oneself (dar explicaciones)
  • a ver, explícate, ¿qué quieres decir con eso? -> come on, explain, what do you mean by that?
  • no sé si me explico -> do you know what I mean?
3 to make oneself understood (expresarse)

Copyright © 2006 Chambers Harrap Publishers Limited

explicar [ex-ple-car']
article & verb transitive
1 To explain, to clear up, to expound (teoría), to comment, to construe.
verb reflexive
2 To explain or speak one's mind with propriety and freedom.
  • Explicar el porqué de una cosa -> to account
3 To be explained (ser explicable).
  • Esto no se explica fácilmente -> this cannot be explained easily

Velazquez® Spanish and English Dictionary. Copyright © 2007 by Velazquez® Press. All rights reserved.

explicar
verbo:transitivo
1 (exponer) [+motivo, tema, cuestión, problema] to explain; [+teoría] to expound
2 (Escol) [+materia] to lecture in; [+curso] to teach; [+clase] to give; deliver; (formal)
verbo:pronominal
explicarse
1 (al exponer algo) to explain; explain o.s.
¡explíquese usted! explain yourself!; explíquese con la mayor brevedad please be as brief as possible; se explica con claridad he states things expresses himself clearly;o
se explica de acuerdo con las nuevas teorías
esto no se explica fácilmente this cannot be explained (away) easily; this isn't easy to explain
2 (al entender algo)
no me lo explico I can't understand it; I can't make it out
3 (familiar) (pagar) to cough up; (familiar) pay
Cuando explicar lleva objeto directo e indirecto, el orden en inglés es normalmente explain + objeto directo + to + objeto indirecto:
explicarexplainto
¿Puedes explicarme eso? Can you explain that to me?;Can you explain that to me?
Ya se lo he explicado a mi familia I've already explained it to my family;I've already explained it to my family
Os explicaré la situación I will explain the situation to you;I will explain the situation to you
Sin embargo, si el objeto directo es una construcción más compleja, en inglés se sigue el mismo orden que en español, sin olvidar el uso de la preposición to:
to
¿Puedes explicarme por qué no viniste ni llamaste ayer? Can you explain to me why you didn't come or phone yesterday?;Can you explain to me why you didn't come or phone yesterday?
explicar

Collins Complete Spanish Electronic Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

Verb Conjugation for "explicar"

Presente Pretérito Imperfect Futuro Subjuntivo
Yo explico expliqué explicaba explicaré explique
Tú explicas explicaste explicabas explicarás expliques
Ella/Él/Usted explica explicó explicaba explicará explique
Nosotros explicamos explicamos explicábamos explicaremos expliquemos
Vosotros explicáis explicasteis explicabais explicaréis expliquéis
Ellos/Ustedes explican explicaron explicaban explicarán expliquen
Paid English to Spanish translation

Word of the Day: evidentemente

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evidently, plainly, clearly, obviously