vs
QUICK ANSWER
"Interesar" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "to interest", and "parecer" is a copular verb which is often translated as "to seem". Learn more about the difference between "interesar" and "parecer" below.
interesar(
een
-
teh
-
reh
-
sahr
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to interest
¿De verdad crees que esta película les interesa a los alumnos?Do you really think this movie will interest the students?
b. to be of interest
El proyecto seguramente interesará a los inversionistas.The project will certainly be of interest to the investors.
2. (to affect)
a. to concern
Las decisiones de la presidente nos interesan a todos.The president's decisions concern us all.
a. to be of interest
Interesaría realizar una investigación más detallada del caso.It would be of interest to conduct further research on the case.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to interest in
El vendedor nos interesó en la casa en venta.The salesman interested us in the house on sale.
b. to get interested in
Tenemos que tratar de interesar a los niños en el deporte.We've got to try to get kids interested in sports.
interesarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to be interested in
El comité se interesó mucho en mi propuesta.The committee was very interested in my proposal.
b. to take interest in
La maestra espera que, con su dinámica, sus alumnos se interesen en la clase.The teacher hopes that, with her dynamism, her students take an interest in the class.
c. to take an interest in
Se interesó por el jazz gitano luego de leer sobre el guitarrista Django Reinhardt.He took an interest in gypsy jazz after reading about Django Reinhardt's history.
a. to ask about
Los amigos de Julia se interesaron por su salud.Julia's friends asked about her health.
b. to inquire about
Hasta ahora, nadie en la empresa se ha interesado por mi bienestar.Nobody in the company has yet inquired about my welfare.
parecer(
pah
-
reh
-
sehr
)A copular verb links the subject of a clause to the predicate (e.g., My brother is tall).
a. to look like
Mi perro parece un zorro con su cola tan larga.My dog looks like a fox with his long tail.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
An impersonal verb is a verb with no apparent subject (e.g., Llueve en España.).
a. to look like
Parece que va a nevar. - No creo; no está lo suficientemente frío.It looks like it's going to snow. - I don't think so; it's not cold enough.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Me parece que el ministro debería dimitir.I think the minister should resign.
¿Qué te pareció la serie sobre la familia real? - Me pareció una tontería.What did you think of the series about the royal family? - I thought it was nonsense.
parecerse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to look like
Te pareces mucho a tu papá cuando tenía tu edad.You look a lot like your father when he was your age.
b. to be like
Se parece a un vaquero con esas botas y esa actitud.He's like a cowboy with those boots and that attitude.
A reciprocal verb is a verb that indicates that two or more subjects perform an action on each other (e.g., Ellos se abrazan.).
