importar

The Spanish verb importar is a fascinating linguistic tool that serves two primary functions in the Spanish language. For beginners at the A1 level, its most frequent and vital use is to express that something matters, has importance, or is of concern to someone. Structurally, it functions similarly to the verb gustar, which can be a bit of a hurdle for English speakers who are used to saying 'I care' or 'It matters to me' with a different syntactic logic. In Spanish, the thing that matters is the subject of the sentence, and the person who cares is the indirect object. This means you will almost always see it paired with pronouns like me, te, le, nos, os, or les.

The 'To Matter' Sense

In this context, importar describes the significance of an object, a person, or a situation. When you say 'No me importa,' you are literally saying 'It does not matter to me.' This is the cornerstone of expressing priorities and personal values in Spanish. It is used in daily conversations to discuss everything from what you want for dinner to deep emotional connections.

Beyond personal feelings, importar also carries a second, more technical meaning: to import goods or services from another country. This usage is common in business, economics, and news reports. While the 'to matter' sense is what you will use at the dinner table, the 'to import' sense is what you will see in a shipping office or a newspaper. It is a regular -ar verb in this context, following standard conjugation patterns, though the 'to matter' sense is usually restricted to the third person singular or plural because the 'subject' is the thing that matters.

The 'To Import' Sense

This refers to the commercial act of bringing products into a country. For example, 'España importa petróleo de otros países' (Spain imports oil from other countries). In this usage, the person or entity doing the importing is the subject, unlike the 'to matter' sense where the person is the indirect object.

Culturally, the phrase 'No me importa' is very common, but it can range from a neutral 'I don't mind' to a dismissive 'I don't care.' Tone and context are everything. If a friend asks where you want to eat and you say 'No me importa,' it is usually polite. However, if someone is telling you a serious problem and you say 'No me importa,' it can be quite rude. To be safer and more polite, many Spanish speakers use 'No me importa' in the sense of 'It doesn't bother me' when someone asks for a favor or permission.

Polite Requests

You will often hear the question '¿Te importa si...?' or '¿Le importa si...?' which translates to 'Do you mind if...?' This is a standard way to ask for permission or to check if an action will bother someone else. It is essential for social etiquette in Spanish-speaking cultures.

In summary, importar is a versatile verb that bridges the gap between personal values and international trade. Whether you are discussing your feelings, asking for permission, or talking about the global economy, this word is indispensable. Understanding its dual nature and its 'gustar-like' structure is a major milestone for any Spanish learner moving from basic phrases to more natural, expressive communication.

Mastering the use of importar requires a shift in how you think about sentence construction. Because it is a 'gustar-like' verb, the English subject (the person who cares) becomes the indirect object in Spanish. This is the most common point of confusion for English speakers. Instead of saying 'I matter,' which implies you are important, you say 'Me importa,' which means 'It matters to me.' Let's break down the mechanics of this verb to ensure you can use it accurately in any situation.

The Pronoun Structure

To use importar correctly, you must precede it with an indirect object pronoun: me (to me), te (to you), le (to him/her/you formal), nos (to us), os (to you all), les (to them/you all formal). For example, 'Nos importa la paz' means 'Peace matters to us.'

When the thing that matters is plural, the verb must change to importan. This is a common mistake where learners keep the verb singular because they are thinking of the person (the 'I' or 'we') as the subject. If you are talking about 'your grades' (tus notas), the verb must be plural. 'Me importan tus notas' (Your grades matter to me). If you are talking about 'your health' (tu salud), it is singular: 'Me importa tu salud.'

Agreement with the Subject

The verb agrees with the noun that follows it. If the noun is singular or an infinitive verb, use importa. If the noun is plural, use importan. This is non-negotiable in correct Spanish grammar.

Another crucial pattern is the use of importar with the conjunction que followed by the subjunctive mood. This is a more advanced usage (B1/B2 level) but it is very common. When you say 'It matters to me that you are here,' the 'that you are here' part triggers the subjunctive: 'Me importa que estés aquí.' This is because you are expressing an emotion or a value judgment about an action performed by someone else.

Using the Subjunctive

When importar is followed by que and a new subject, the following verb must be in the subjunctive. This is used to express how someone's actions affect you emotionally or what you find important in their behavior.

In the business sense of 'to import,' the structure is much simpler and follows the standard Subject + Verb + Object pattern. 'La empresa importa seda de China' (The company imports silk from China). Here, 'La empresa' is the subject, 'importa' is the verb, and 'seda' is the direct object. You do not use indirect object pronouns (me, te, le) in this context unless you are saying the company imports it for someone.

The Commercial Pattern

Subject (Importer) + Importar (Conjugated) + Object (Goods) + Preposition (de/desde) + Origin. This is the standard way to describe international trade.

Finally, let's look at the negative and interrogative forms. To ask if something matters, simply put the pronoun and verb first: '¿Te importa?' To say it doesn't matter, put 'no' before the pronoun: 'No me importa.' You can also add emphasis using words like nada (at all) or mucho (a lot). 'No me importa nada' (I don't care at all) vs. 'Me importa muchísimo' (It matters a huge amount to me).

The verb importar is omnipresent in the Spanish-speaking world, echoing through various layers of society from the most casual street slang to the highest levels of economic discourse. Because it touches on the core of human values—what we care about—and the practicalities of global existence—what we trade—you will encounter it daily. Understanding where and how it appears will help you tune your ear to its many nuances.

Daily Social Interactions

In casual settings, importar is the go-to verb for expressing preferences and indifference. You'll hear friends debating where to go, what to watch, or what to eat. 'Me da igual' is a common synonym, but 'No me importa' is equally frequent. It’s also used to show empathy: 'Me importa lo que te pase' (I care about what happens to you).

In the workplace or formal environments, importar is used to discuss priorities and project requirements. Managers might say, 'Lo que más importa ahora es terminar el informe' (What matters most now is finishing the report). It is also the standard verb for polite inquiries. If you are in a shared space, you might ask, '¿Le importa si uso este teléfono?' (Do you mind if I use this phone?). This is a key phrase for anyone traveling or working in a Spanish-speaking country.

Politeness and Etiquette

Using importar in questions is a sign of good manners. It shows that you are considering the other person's comfort. You will hear this in restaurants, on public transport, and in offices constantly.

Switching to the news and media, importar takes on its economic role. You will hear news anchors discussing 'la balanza comercial' (the trade balance) and how much a country 'importa' versus 'exporta.' During economic crises or trade negotiations, this word becomes a buzzword. For example, 'México importa una gran cantidad de maíz de Estados Unidos' (Mexico imports a large amount of corn from the United States). This is a completely different register but uses the exact same word.

Economic and Political News

In this context, the verb is used to describe the flow of goods across borders. It is often found in the business section of newspapers like El País or Reforma. It follows standard conjugation and doesn't use the 'gustar' structure.

In literature and music, importar is a staple of romantic and existential themes. Countless songs feature lyrics like 'No me importa nada si no estás tú' (Nothing matters to me if you aren't here). It expresses the weight of emotions and the hierarchy of what is truly valuable in life. When reading Spanish poetry or listening to Latin pop, keep an ear out for this verb; it’s usually at the heart of the song's message.

Learning importar can be tricky because it challenges the fundamental way English speakers construct sentences about 'caring' or 'mattering.' Because the structure is inverted compared to English, learners often fall into predictable traps. Identifying these mistakes early will help you sound more like a native speaker and avoid confusing your listeners. Let's look at the most frequent errors and how to fix them.

The 'Yo' Subject Error

English speakers often say 'Yo importo' when they mean 'I care.' However, 'Yo importo' actually means 'I am important' or 'I matter.' If you want to say 'I care about the environment,' you must say 'Me importa el medio ambiente.' The 'I' becomes 'me' (to me).

Another common mistake is failing to change the verb to the plural form when the thing that matters is plural. Learners often stick to 'importa' because they are thinking of themselves (singular) as the one who cares. Remember: the verb agrees with the object of your concern. If you care about 'your friends,' the verb must be 'importan.' 'Me importan mis amigos' is the only correct way to say this.

Number Agreement Failure

Always check if the noun following the verb is singular or plural. This determines if you use importa or importan. This is the same logic used for gustar, encantar, and interesar.

Confusion between the two meanings of importar (to matter vs. to import) can also lead to strange sentences. While context usually clarifies the meaning, using the 'gustar' structure for the commercial sense of importing goods is a mistake. You wouldn't say 'Me importa el café de Brasil' if you mean 'I import coffee from Brazil.' That would mean 'I care about Brazilian coffee.' For the commercial act, use 'Yo importo café de Brasil.'

Mixing Up the Two Meanings

If you are the subject doing the action of bringing goods into a country, use standard conjugation. If something is significant to you, use the indirect object pronoun structure.

Finally, watch out for the preposition 'de' when expressing what you care about. In English, we say 'I care about something.' In Spanish, there is no preposition between importar and the noun. It's just 'Me importa [noun].' Adding 'de' or 'sobre' after importar is a common anglicism that sounds unnatural to native ears. Keep it simple and direct.

While importar is a powerful and common verb, Spanish offers several alternatives that can add precision or a different emotional tone to your speech. Depending on whether you want to sound more casual, more formal, or express a specific type of 'mattering,' you might choose a different word. Let's compare importar with its closest relatives to help you expand your vocabulary and sound more natural.

Importar vs. Interesar

Interesar (to interest) is very similar in structure but focuses on curiosity or benefit rather than significance or concern. While 'Me importa la política' means politics is important to me, 'Me interesa la política' means I find politics interesting or I want to learn more about it. They often overlap, but importar is usually 'heavier' or more personal.

Another common alternative, especially in Spain, is the phrase 'dar igual.' This is the quintessential way to express indifference. 'Me da igual' literally means 'It gives me the same,' and it's used exactly like 'I don't care' or 'It doesn't matter to me.' It is slightly more informal than 'No me importa' and is used constantly in decision-making: '¿Pizza o pasta?' 'Me da igual.'

Importar vs. Dar Igual

Use importar when you want to emphasize the value or lack thereof. Use dar igual when you are choosing between options and have no preference. Dar igual is very common in spoken Spanish but less so in formal writing.

For situations involving worry or anxiety, the verb preocupar (to worry) is a better choice. While 'Me importa mi examen' means the exam is important to me, 'Me preocupa mi examen' means I am anxious about it. Importar is about value; preocupar is about stress. They are both 'gustar-like' verbs, so the transition between them is grammatically easy once you know the structure.

Importar vs. Preocupar

If the 'mattering' causes you sleepness nights, use preocupar. If it's just something you hold in high regard, stick with importar.

Finally, in the commercial sense of 'to import,' you might use traer (to bring) or adquirir (to acquire) in more general contexts. However, importar is the precise technical term for international trade. If you are talking about bringing a souvenir from a trip, use traer. If you are talking about a business bringing in 500 tons of steel, use importar.