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B1 verb #2,500 le plus courant 10 min de lecture

detallar

At the A1 level, you don't need to use 'detallar' often, but you should recognize it. Think of it as a 'big brother' to the word 'detalle' (detail). When you see 'detallar', think of 'making a list' or 'telling a story with many small things'. For example, if you describe your house, you are 'detallando' your house. At this stage, you will mostly use 'decir' (to say) or 'explicar' (to explain), but knowing 'detallar' helps you understand when someone wants more information from you. If a teacher says 'Detalla tu respuesta', they want more than one word. They want a full sentence with colors, sizes, or names. It's about adding 'extra' info to your basic Spanish.
As an A2 learner, you are starting to describe your life and routines. 'Detallar' becomes useful when you talk about your past or your plans. Instead of just saying 'I went to the beach', you can 'detallar' your trip: 'Detallé mi viaje a mis amigos' (I detailed my trip to my friends). You can use it to talk about recipes ('detallar los ingredientes') or shopping lists. It's a step up from 'decir'. It shows you are trying to be more precise. You might see this word on forms or simple instructions, like 'Detalle su dirección' (Detail your address). It's a formal way of asking for your full street name, number, and city.
At the B1 level, 'detallar' is a key vocabulary word. You are now expected to handle professional and social situations with more complexity. You should use 'detallar' in work emails or school reports. For example, 'En este correo, detallo los problemas con el proyecto'. It sounds much more professional than 'En este correo, digo los problemas'. You also start to use it in the imperative form to ask for clarification: '¿Podrías detallar un poco más esa idea?'. This shows you are engaged in the conversation and want to understand the specifics. You should also be comfortable using the adjective form 'detallado' (e.g., 'un informe detallado').
At B2, you should use 'detallar' to organize your arguments. When giving a presentation or writing an essay, 'detallar' helps you transition between a general statement and your evidence. You might say, 'Para entender esta situación, es necesario detallar los antecedentes históricos'. You are now aware of the nuances between 'detallar' and 'especificar'. You use 'detallar' for complex narratives or processes and 'especificar' for single facts. You also encounter 'detallar' in news and media, where journalists use it to provide 'pormenores' (details) of a story. Your usage should feel natural and not forced, appearing in both formal and semi-formal contexts.
For C1 learners, 'detallar' is part of a broad repertoire of precision verbs. You use it to avoid repetition and to set a specific tone. You might choose 'detallar' over 'pormenorizar' to sound professional but not archaic, or choose it over 'desglosar' when the focus is on description rather than numbers. You understand the stylistic impact of the verb—how it creates a sense of transparency and authority in your writing. You can use it in complex grammatical structures, such as 'Habiendo detallado los riesgos, procedemos a...' (Having detailed the risks, we proceed to...). You also recognize its use in literature to describe a writer's style: 'El autor se detiene a detallar el paisaje'.
At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of 'detallar' and its stylistic variations. You can use it to express subtle irony or to emphasize extreme meticulousness. You understand its etymological roots and how it relates to other Romance languages. You might use it in legal, academic, or highly technical discourse where the distinction between 'detallar', 'desglosar', 'pormenorizar', and 'minuciar' is critical for legal or scientific accuracy. You are also aware of regional variations, such as the use of 'detallar' as 'to scrutinize' in certain Latin American dialects, and you can navigate these differences in conversation without confusion. Your use of the word is indistinguishable from a highly educated native speaker.
Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

detallar en 30 secondes

  • Detallar means to provide a complete and specific account of something.
  • It is a regular -ar verb used in formal and professional contexts.
  • It implies precision and completeness, moving beyond simple explanation.
  • Commonly used in reports, legal documents, and detailed storytelling.

The Spanish verb detallar is a sophisticated yet essential term that bridges the gap between basic communication and professional precision. At its core, it means to give a full, exhaustive account of something, ensuring that no single element, however small, is overlooked. It is the act of breaking down a complex whole into its constituent parts for the purpose of clarity, analysis, or record-keeping. Unlike the simple verb 'decir' (to say) or 'explicar' (to explain), detallar implies a level of granularity and meticulousness that suggests the speaker is providing a roadmap or a blueprint of information.

Semantic Core
The verb stems from the noun 'detalle' (detail), which itself originates from the French 'détail', meaning a piece cut off. Thus, to detail something is literally to 'cut it into pieces' so that each piece can be examined individually.
Pragmatic Use
In a pragmatic sense, when a Spanish speaker says 'déjame detallar los hechos', they are signaling a transition from generalities to specifics. It is a word of commitment to accuracy.

"El perito procedió a detallar cada una de las pruebas halladas en la escena del crimen, sin omitir el más mínimo rastro de ADN."

— Example of forensic precision using 'detallar'.

To understand detallar, one must appreciate the cultural value of 'el detalle' in Spanish-speaking societies. While often associated with 'pormenorizar' (to itemize), detallar carries a more versatile weight. It can be used in culinary contexts (detailing the ingredients), legal contexts (detailing the clauses of a contract), or even emotional contexts (detailing the reasons for one's feelings). It is a verb of transparency. When someone 'detalla', they are removing the veil of ambiguity.

"Es fundamental detallar el presupuesto antes de firmar cualquier acuerdo comercial para evitar malentendidos futuros."

Synonymic Distinction
While 'especificar' focuses on making something clear, 'detallar' focuses on the completeness of the list. You specify a date, but you detail a plan.

Furthermore, the verb is intrinsically linked to the concept of 'pormenores' (details/minutiae). To detail is to navigate through the 'pormenores' with a steady hand. In professional writing, especially in Spain and Mexico, the use of detallar elevates the register of the text, moving it away from the colloquial 'contar' (to tell) and toward a more analytical framework. It suggests that the speaker has done the cognitive work of organization before speaking.

"La guía turística se encargó de detallar la historia de cada monumento, transportándonos al siglo XVI con sus palabras."

Using detallar correctly requires understanding its nature as a transitive verb. This means it almost always takes a direct object—the thing being detailed. You don't just 'detail'; you detail a plan, a story, a list, or a set of instructions. Structurally, it follows the standard conjugation for regular '-ar' verbs, making it relatively easy for B1 learners to master once they understand the context.

Sentence Structure
[Subject] + [Conjugated 'detallar'] + [Direct Object]. Example: 'El autor detalla la trama' (The author details the plot).
Prepositional Usage
Often followed by 'en' when referring to the medium: 'Detallar en un informe' (To detail in a report).

"Por favor, detalla tus gastos en la hoja de cálculo para que podamos procesar el reembolso."

One of the most common ways to use detallar is in the imperative mood, especially in professional or instructional settings. 'Detalle sus síntomas' (Detail your symptoms) is something a doctor might say. 'Detallen el proceso' (Detail the process) is a common command in a classroom or workplace. It demands a response that is structured and thorough. It is not an invitation for a summary; it is an invitation for an itemization.

In the passive voice, detallar is frequently used in news reporting. 'Los pormenores del acuerdo no han sido detallados todavía' (The details of the agreement have not been detailed yet). This usage highlights the lack of information. When you use the verb in the negative, it often implies a sense of secrecy or incompleteness.

"No es necesario detallar cada minuto de tu viaje, solo cuéntanos lo más importante."

Gerund and Participle
'Detallando' (detailing) and 'Detallado' (detailed). The participle often acts as an adjective: 'Un informe detallado' (A detailed report).

Finally, consider the reflexive form, though rare, 'detallarse' can be used in poetic or highly formal contexts to mean 'to become visible in detail' or 'to stand out'. However, for 99% of learners, focusing on the transitive usage is the priority. It is a verb of action, of laying out the facts, and of ensuring clarity in communication.

The verb detallar resonates through various spheres of Spanish-speaking life, from the rigid corridors of bureaucracy to the creative workshops of artists. You will hear it most frequently in environments where precision is not just valued but required. In a business meeting in Madrid or Mexico City, a manager might say, 'Necesitamos que nos detallen la estrategia de marketing para el próximo trimestre'. Here, the word acts as a signal for deep-dive analysis.

Legal and Administrative
Contracts, laws, and official documents are the natural habitat of 'detallar'. 'El contrato detalla las obligaciones de ambas partes'.
Journalism and Media
News anchors use it to introduce deep-dive reports: 'A continuación, vamos a detallar el impacto de la nueva reforma'.

"En el juicio, el testigo comenzó a detallar cronológicamente todo lo que vio aquella noche."

In the culinary world, particularly in the growing trend of high-end gastronomy in Latin America and Spain, chefs and food critics use detallar to describe the composition of a dish. A menu might 'detallar' the origin of each ingredient, emphasizing the 'kilómetro cero' (farm-to-table) philosophy. It adds a layer of sophistication and respect for the product.

You will also encounter it in the world of technology and software development. When a user reports a bug, the support team will ask them to 'detallar el error'. This means providing the steps to reproduce it, the operating system used, and the exact error message. In this context, detallar is synonymous with 'documentar' (to document).

"El manual de instrucciones detalla paso a paso cómo montar el mueble sin necesidad de herramientas profesionales."

Academic Lectures
Professors use it to set expectations: 'En este examen, deben detallar sus respuestas; no aceptaré solo un sí o un no'.

Lastly, in everyday life, while less common than 'contar', it is used when someone wants to be taken seriously. If a friend says, 'Te voy a detallar lo que pasó', they are signaling that the story is long, complex, and they want you to pay close attention to the specifics. It moves the conversation from casual gossip to a serious narrative.

Even though detallar is a regular verb, its usage is fraught with subtle pitfalls for English speakers and early intermediate learners. The most common mistake is using it as a direct translation for the English 'to detail' in the context of car cleaning (auto detailing). In Spanish, this is usually called 'limpieza profunda' or 'estética automotriz', although 'detallado' is becoming an anglicism in some regions.

The 'Car' Trap
Incorrect: 'Voy a detallar mi coche.' Correct: 'Voy a hacerle una limpieza detallada a mi coche' or 'Voy a llevar el coche al detallado' (if using the noun).
Over-formalization
Using 'detallar' when a simple 'contar' or 'decir' would suffice can make you sound robotic or overly bureaucratic in casual settings.

"¿Puedes detallarme qué quieres de comer?"
(Too formal for a simple lunch choice)

Another frequent error is the confusion between detallar and desglosar. While similar, 'desglosar' specifically refers to breaking down a total sum into its parts (like a bill or a budget). You 'detallar' a story, but you 'desglosar' an invoice. Using 'detallar' for an invoice isn't strictly wrong, but 'desglosar' is much more precise and professional.

Furthermore, avoid using detallar when you actually mean 'especificar'. If you just need one specific piece of information (like a time or a name), 'especificar' is the better choice. 'Detallar' implies a plurality of details. If you ask someone to 'detallar la hora', it sounds strange because a time doesn't have many parts to detail.

"Error: 'El testigo detalló el nombre del culpable.'
Better: 'El testigo especificó el nombre del culpable.'"

False Cognate Risks
In some contexts, 'detail' in English means to assign someone to a specific task (e.g., 'He was detailed to the security team'). In Spanish, this is 'asignar' or 'destinar', never 'detallar'.

Finally, watch out for the reflexive 'detallarse'. While it exists, using it to mean 'to explain oneself' is incorrect. If you want to say 'I will explain myself in detail', use 'Me explicaré con detalle' or 'Detallaré mi explicación', but not 'Me detallaré'.

The Spanish language is rich with verbs that deal with the transmission of information. Understanding where detallar sits among its synonyms will help you choose the right word for the right occasion. The most common synonyms are pormenorizar, especificar, desglosar, and explicar, each with its own specific flavor.

Pormenorizar
This is the closest synonym to 'detallar'. It comes from 'por menores' (by small parts). It is more formal and is used almost exclusively in writing or very formal speeches.
Desglosar
Used primarily for numbers, budgets, and technical components. It means to break a whole into its parts to see how they add up.

"Mientras que detallar se usa para relatos y descripciones, desglosar es el rey de las facturas y los presupuestos."

Then we have especificar. This verb is about pinpointing. If 'detallar' is a wide-angle lens showing every blade of grass, 'especificar' is a laser pointer focusing on one specific flower. You specify the terms of a contract, but you detail the events of a story. Another related verb is relatar, which means to tell a story. While 'relatar' is about the narrative flow, 'detallar' is about the content within that narrative.

In a more casual sense, explicar (to explain) is the 'catch-all' verb. If you are unsure, 'explicar' is always safe. However, using detallar shows a higher level of Spanish proficiency. It tells the listener that you aren't just explaining the 'why', but you are providing the 'what', 'how', and 'where' in a structured manner.

"No basta con explicar el problema; el técnico debe detallar la solución propuesta para que el cliente la entienda."

Enumerar
To list. This is more clinical than 'detallar'. 'Enumerar' is just 1, 2, 3... 'Detallar' includes the descriptions of 1, 2, and 3.

Finally, consider profundizar (to go deep). While 'detallar' stays on the surface of the parts, 'profundizar' goes into the meaning or the implications of those parts. They are often used together: 'Vamos a detallar los puntos y luego profundizar en cada uno'. Mastering these distinctions is the key to reaching a C1 or C2 level of fluency.

How Formal Is It?

Formel

""

Informel

""

Niveau de difficulté

Grammaire à connaître

Exemples par niveau

1

Yo voy a detallar mi habitación.

I am going to detail my room.

Simple present with 'ir a' + infinitive.

2

¿Puedes detallar tu familia?

Can you detail your family?

Question using 'poder' + infinitive.

3

Ella detalla los colores de la flor.

She details the colors of the flower.

Third person singular present.

4

Nosotros detallamos la lista de comida.

We detail the food list.

First person plural present.

5

Él quiere detallar su día.

He wants to detail his day.

Infinitive after the verb 'querer'.

6

Detalla tu nombre y apellido aquí.

Detail your first and last name here.

Imperative (tú form).

7

Ellos detallan el precio de la fruta.

They detail the price of the fruit.

Third person plural present.

8

Me gusta detallar mis dibujos.

I like to detail my drawings.

Infinitive after 'gustar'.

1

Ayer detallé todo lo que compré.

Yesterday I detailed everything I bought.

Preterite (past tense) first person.

2

El guía detalló la historia del castillo.

The guide detailed the history of the castle.

Preterite third person singular.

3

Tienes que detallar los ingredientes de la tarta.

You have to detail the ingredients of the cake.

Periphrasis 'tener que' + infinitive.

4

No detallamos el plan de viaje todavía.

We didn't detail the travel plan yet.

Negative sentence in preterite.

5

¿Me puedes detallar cómo llegar a tu casa?

Can you detail to me how to get to your house?

Indirect object pronoun 'me' with 'poder'.

6

El médico detalló los síntomas en la ficha.

The doctor detailed the symptoms on the file.

Preterite tense.

7

Ella siempre detalla sus gastos mensuales.

She always details her monthly expenses.

Present tense with frequency adverb 'siempre'.

8

Detallamos los errores del examen en clase.

We detailed the exam errors in class.

Preterite first person plural.

1

El informe detalla los resultados del estudio.

The report details the results of the study.

Present tense used for factual reporting.

2

Es importante detallar las cláusulas del contrato.

It is important to detail the clauses of the contract.

Impersonal expression 'es importante' + infinitive.

3

El testigo detalló el aspecto del sospechoso.

The witness detailed the suspect's appearance.

Preterite for a completed action.

4

Si detallaras más tu propuesta, tendrías más éxito.

If you detailed your proposal more, you would have more success.

Imperfect subjunctive in a conditional sentence.

5

He detallado todos los puntos en el correo electrónico.

I have detailed all the points in the email.

Present perfect tense.

6

El manual detalla cómo configurar la red Wi-Fi.

The manual details how to set up the Wi-Fi network.

Present tense for instructions.

7

Estamos detallando el presupuesto para el evento.

We are detailing the budget for the event.

Present continuous tense.

8

No quiso detallar los motivos de su renuncia.

He didn't want to detail the reasons for his resignation.

Preterite of 'querer' (refusal).

1

La noticia detallaba el impacto económico de la crisis.

The news was detailing the economic impact of the crisis.

Imperfect tense for descriptive background.

2

Sin detallar las causas, es difícil encontrar una solución.

Without detailing the causes, it is difficult to find a solution.

Preposition 'sin' + infinitive.

3

El autor se recrea detallando la atmósfera del relato.

The author takes pleasure in detailing the atmosphere of the story.

Gerund used as a complement of the verb 'recrearse'.

4

Fue necesario detallar el procedimiento de seguridad.

It was necessary to detail the security procedure.

Passive-like impersonal construction.

5

Cualquier error debe ser detallado en el registro.

Any error must be detailed in the log.

Passive voice with 'ser' + participle.

6

Me gustaría que detallaras tu experiencia previa.

I would like you to detail your previous experience.

Conditional + 'que' + imperfect subjunctive.

7

El artículo detalla la evolución de la especie.

The article details the evolution of the species.

Present tense for scientific facts.

8

No se detallaron los nombres de los involucrados.

The names of those involved were not detailed.

Passive 'se' construction.

1

La auditoría detalló irregularidades en la gestión.

The audit detailed irregularities in the management.

Formal vocabulary (auditoría, gestión).

2

A falta de detallar los flecos del acuerdo, todo está listo.

Pending the detailing of the loose ends of the agreement, everything is ready.

Idiomatic expression 'flecos del acuerdo'.

3

El conferenciante detalló minuciosamente su teoría.

The speaker meticulously detailed his theory.

Adverb 'minuciosamente' reinforcing the verb.

4

Resulta imperativo detallar los riesgos medioambientales.

It is imperative to detail the environmental risks.

Formal adjective 'imperativo'.

5

El contrato debe detallar pormenorizadamente las sanciones.

The contract must detail the sanctions in a detailed manner.

Use of 'pormenorizadamente' (redundant for emphasis).

6

Se limitó a detallar los hechos sin emitir juicios.

He limited himself to detailing the facts without passing judgment.

Reflexive 'limitarse a' + infinitive.

7

La novela detalla la decadencia de la aristocracia.

The novel details the decline of the aristocracy.

Literary analysis context.

8

Habiendo detallado el plan, solo queda ejecutarlo.

Having detailed the plan, all that remains is to execute it.

Compound gerund for completed action.

1

La sentencia detalla la jurisprudencia aplicable al caso.

The ruling details the case law applicable to the case.

Legal terminology (sentencia, jurisprudencia).

2

Es ocioso detallar lo que ya es de conocimiento público.

It is pointless to detail what is already public knowledge.

Sophisticated adjective 'ocioso'.

3

El ensayo detalla las aporías del pensamiento moderno.

The essay details the aporias of modern thought.

Academic/Philosophical vocabulary (aporías).

4

No entraré a detallar las cuitas de mi atribulada existencia.

I will not go into detailing the grievances of my troubled existence.

Archaic/Literary vocabulary (cuitas, atribulada).

5

La bitácora detalla las vicisitudes de la expedición ártica.

The logbook details the vicissitudes of the Arctic expedition.

Sophisticated vocabulary (bitácora, vicisitudes).

6

El informe pericial detalla la trayectoria del proyectil.

The expert report details the trajectory of the projectile.

Technical/Forensic context.

7

Se detalla a continuación el desglose de los activos.

The breakdown of assets is detailed below.

Passive 'se' in formal business writing.

8

Resulta prolijo detallar cada una de las variantes dialectales.

It would be long-winded to detail each of the dialectal variants.

Sophisticated adjective 'prolijo'.

Collocations courantes

detallar el plan
detallar los gastos
detallar los síntomas
detallar el proceso
detallar los hechos
detallar la estrategia
detallar el presupuesto
detallar las causas
detallar los pormenores
detallar la información

Phrases Courantes

sin detallar

detallar paso a paso

proceder a detallar

detallar por menor

detallar en profundidad

falta detallar

detallar minuciosamente

detallar exhaustivamente

detallar los motivos

detallar la situación

Souvent confondu avec

detallar vs Desglosar (used for numbers/bills)

detallar vs Especificar (used for single points)

detallar vs Contar (used for general storytelling)

Expressions idiomatiques

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Facile à confondre

detallar vs

detallar vs

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Structures de phrases

Comment l'utiliser

nuance

It is more about the 'completeness' of the list than the 'explanation' of the logic.

regional

In some Caribbean regions, 'detallar' can be used for 'to look at someone intensely'.

Erreurs courantes
  • Using 'detallar' for 'to detail a car'.
  • Adding 'sobre' after the verb.
  • Using it for simple, one-fact explanations.
  • Confusing it with 'desglosar' in financial contexts.
  • Using the reflexive 'detallarse' to mean 'to explain oneself'.

Astuces

Level Up

Replace 'decir' with 'detallar' in your writing to sound more professional.

No 'sobre'

Remember: 'detallar el problema', not 'detallar sobre el problema'.

The 'LL' Sound

Make sure you don't pronounce it like a single 'L'. It's 'de-ta-yar'.

Bullet Points

Use 'detallar' right before you start a list of items in an email.

Gestures

Remember that 'un detalle' is a gift, but 'detallar' is a verb of speech.

Context

Use it when you want to show you have been thorough in your work.

Car Detail

Avoid using it for car washing unless you are in a region where it's accepted.

Variety

Switch between 'detallar' and 'especificar' to avoid repetition.

News

Pay attention to news intros; they almost always use this verb.

Tailor

Think of a tailor cutting fabric into detailed pieces.

Mémorise-le

Origine du mot

From the noun 'detalle', which comes from the French 'détail'.

Contexte culturel

Spanish law is very 'detallista' (detailed), requiring precise language in all filings.

In meetings, asking someone to 'detallar' is a polite but firm way to ask for more evidence.

Spanish realism relies heavily on the verb 'detallar' to build immersive worlds.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Amorces de conversation

"¿Podrías detallar tu plan para el fin de semana?"

"¿Qué aspectos de tu trabajo te gustaría detallar más?"

"Si tuvieras que detallar tu ciudad ideal, ¿cómo sería?"

"¿Puedes detallar los pasos para cocinar tu plato favorito?"

"¿Te gusta detallar tus viajes o prefieres improvisar?"

Sujets d'écriture

Detalla tu día de hoy desde que te levantaste hasta ahora.

Detalla las cualidades que buscas en un amigo de verdad.

Detalla un recuerdo de tu infancia que sea muy vívido.

Detalla tus metas profesionales para los próximos cinco años.

Detalla cómo ha cambiado tu vida en el último año.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

No exactamente. 'Explicar' es dar la razón de algo, mientras que 'detallar' es dar una lista completa de sus partes o hechos.

En español estándar no es común; se prefiere 'limpieza profunda'. Sin embargo, en algunos países se usa por influencia del inglés.

Sí, se conjuga exactamente como 'hablar' o 'cantar'.

Solo en contextos extremadamente formales o literarios. 'Detallar' es más versátil.

Solo si el objeto directo es una persona (personal 'a'), por ejemplo: 'Detalló a los culpables'.

Significa 'a detailed report', donde 'detallado' actúa como adjetivo.

Sí, es muy común en el pretérito (detalló) para referirse a algo que ya se explicó completamente.

Sí, es muy común tanto en España como en toda América Latina en contextos formales.

Se puede decir 'entrar en detalles' o simplemente usar el verbo 'detallar'.

El antónimo más común es 'resumir' (to summarize).

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