verb

explicar

explain

Hacer que otra persona entienda algo usando palabras sencillas.

Definition & meaning

Explicar is a Spanish verb meaning “to explain,” “to clarify,” or “to account for.” It refers to making an idea, process, situation, or reason understandable.

It can be used in several ways:

To explain information or an idea:
El profesor explica la lección. — “The teacher explains the lesson.”
To clarify something confusing:
¿Puedes explicar este concepto? — “Can you explain this concept?”
To give a reason or account for something:
No puedo explicar lo que ocurrió. — “I cannot explain what happened.”
To explain something to someone:
Ella me explicó el problema. — “She explained the problem to me.”

The construction is usually explicar algo a alguien: “to explain something to someone.”

Grammar & Word origin

Explicar is a regular -ar verb, although its spelling changes from c to qu before e in some forms so that the sound remains the same.

Examples:

yo explico — “I explain”
tú explicas — “you explain”
él/ella explica — “he/she explains”
nosotros explicamos — “we explain”
ellos explican — “they explain”
que yo explique — “that I explain”

The verb comes from Latin explicāre, meaning “to unfold” or “to make clear.” It is formed from ex-, meaning “out,” and plicare, meaning “to fold.” The original idea was to “unfold” something so that it could be understood.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms

aclarar — “to clarify”; emphasizes removing confusion.
detallar — “to give details”; focuses on providing specific information.
describir — “to describe”; focuses on portraying characteristics rather than giving reasons.
justificar — “to justify” or “to give reasons for”; narrower than explicar, because it often involves defending an action or decision.
interpretar — “to interpret”; involves explaining the meaning of something, especially a text, event, or action.

Antonyms

There is no exact direct antonym in every context. Depending on the meaning, possible opposites include:

confundir — “to confuse”; to make something less clear.
ocultar — “to conceal”; to keep information from being known.
callar — “to remain silent” or “not to say”; the opposite of explaining something verbally.

Common phrases & collocations

explicar algo — to explain something
explicar algo a alguien — to explain something to someone
explicar la razón — to explain the reason
explicar un problema — to explain a problem
explicar claramente — to explain clearly
dejar explicar — to let someone explain
no tiene explicación — it has no explanation; it is inexplicable or difficult to account for