이 페이지를 내 언어로

English

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

Français

日本語

Português

中文

हिन्दी

A2 verb #1,500 가장 일반적인 6분 분량

controlar

상위 1,500

연습하기 예시 노트와 팁 controlar 30초 만에

설명 controlar in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'controlar' is introduced in its most basic sense: managing simple objects or following basic instructions. A student might learn it in the context of technology, such as using a remote control ('el control') to change channels. The focus is on the physical act of making something do what you want. Phrases like 'Yo controlo la televisión' or 'Él controla el coche' are typical. The emphasis is on direct, tangible actions and the present tense. Learners are encouraged to see it as a way to express agency over their immediate environment.

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

At the A2 level, the meaning expands to include daily management and monitoring. Students learn to use 'controlar' for tracking progress, such as 'controlar el tiempo' (managing time) or 'controlar los gastos' (monitoring expenses). This level introduces the reflexive form 'controlarse' to talk about basic emotions, like staying calm. The context often shifts to the workplace or school, where one might 'controlar una lista' (check a list). The grammar remains simple, but the applications become more practical for navigating daily life in a Spanish-speaking country.

By B1, 'controlar' takes on more abstract and professional meanings. It is used to describe oversight in business contexts, such as 'control de calidad' (quality control) or 'controlar un proyecto'. Learners begin to use it in the past and future tenses to describe complex situations. It also appears in social contexts, discussing how governments control inflation or how social media controls information. The nuance between 'controlar' (to monitor) and 'revisar' (to check) becomes a key learning point, as does the use of the word in the subjunctive to express desires or requirements for oversight.

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

At the B2 level, students explore the sociopolitical and psychological depths of 'controlar'. They discuss themes of power, influence, and systemic regulation. 'Controlar' is used to talk about scientific variables in experiments or the regulation of markets. The reflexive 'controlarse' is used in more complex emotional discussions, such as 'controlar la ansiedad'. Students are expected to understand the word in idiomatic expressions and to distinguish it from more specific verbs like 'supervisar', 'fiscalizar', or 'gestionar'. The focus is on precision and the ability to discuss control in abstract terms.

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

At the C1 level, 'controlar' is used with high precision in academic and professional discourse. It refers to the subtle manipulation of variables, the governance of complex systems, and the philosophical implications of control. A C1 learner might analyze how a writer 'controla el ritmo' (controls the pace) of a novel or how a policy 'controla el flujo migratorio'. The word is used to discuss nuances of authority and the ethics of surveillance. Learners are comfortable using the word in all moods and tenses, including the most complex hypothetical structures, and can identify its use in formal legal or technical documents.

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

At the C2 level, 'controlar' is mastered in its entirety, including its most subtle connotations and historical etymology. The speaker can use it to discuss the limits of human agency, the 'control' of nature, or the intricate mechanisms of global finance. They can identify when 'controlar' is used ironically or metaphorically in literature. The C2 learner understands the deep cultural implications of 'control' in different Spanish-speaking societies—for instance, the tension between state control and individual liberty. They can use the word to construct sophisticated arguments about cybernetics, philosophy, and power dynamics.

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

연습하기 예시 노트와 팁

controlar 30초 만에

Core meaning: To exercise power, influence, or oversight.
Commonly used for monitoring (checking) and managing (regulating).
Reflexive form 'controlarse' means to restrain oneself.
Essential for technical, medical, and professional contexts.

The Spanish verb controlar is a versatile powerhouse in the language, functioning as a linguistic bridge between management, observation, and emotional restraint. At its core, it signifies the act of exercising authority or influence over something, but its nuances shift significantly depending on the context. In a physical sense, it refers to the operation of machinery or systems. In a social or psychological sense, it refers to the regulation of behavior or feelings. For an A2 learner, it is essential to recognize that 'controlar' often overlaps with the English 'to check' or 'to monitor,' making it a high-frequency word in daily routines, from checking your bank balance to managing your time.

Technical Oversight: Refers to monitoring systems, such as a pilot controlling an aircraft or a technician checking a server's status.
Emotional Regulation: The ability to manage one's temper, anxiety, or excitement, often used reflexively as 'controlarse'.
Administrative Power: The act of governing, managing a business, or overseeing a project's progress.

Es importante controlar el inventario cada semana para evitar pérdidas.

Beyond these definitions, 'controlar' carries a weight of responsibility. When you say you 'control' a situation, you are implying that you have the necessary information and power to steer it toward a desired outcome. This is why it is so common in professional environments. However, in personal relationships, it can sometimes carry a negative connotation of being 'controlling' (controlador), suggesting an overreach of influence over another person's autonomy.

El guardia debe controlar las identificaciones en la entrada.

Synonym: Revisar: While 'controlar' implies monitoring for authority, 'revisar' is more about checking for errors or details.

Using controlar correctly requires understanding its grammatical flexibility. As a regular '-ar' verb, its conjugation is straightforward, making it accessible for beginners. However, the complexity arises in how it interacts with objects and reflexive pronouns. When used transitively, it takes a direct object: 'Controlar el fuego' (To control the fire). When used reflexively, 'controlarse', it shifts the focus inward, meaning to restrain oneself or keep one's cool.

Tienes que controlarte cuando estás enojado.

In professional settings, 'controlar' is often paired with abstract nouns like 'calidad' (quality), 'gastos' (expenses), or 'tiempos' (timing). It is also frequently used in the passive voice or with 'se' to describe automated processes: 'Se controla la temperatura automáticamente'. This usage is vital for technical manuals or descriptions of industrial processes.

Direct Object Usage: Controlar + [Noun] (e.g., controlar la situación, controlar el acceso).
Reflexive Usage: Controlarse (e.g., No pude controlarme y me reí).

El piloto controla los instrumentos de vuelo con precisión.

For learners at the A2 level, focus on using it for daily habits. 'Controlo mi dieta' (I monitor my diet) or 'Controlo mis horas de estudio' (I track my study hours). This makes the word a tool for self-improvement and organization.

You will encounter controlar in a vast array of real-world scenarios. In a modern city, you'll hear it in relation to traffic: 'El semáforo controla el flujo de coches'. In a medical context, a doctor might say, 'Necesitamos controlar su presión arterial', meaning they need to monitor and keep it within a healthy range. It is a staple of news broadcasts, especially when discussing government policies, economic inflation, or police operations.

La policía intentó controlar a la multitud durante el concierto.

In the digital world, 'controlar' is used for parental controls (control parental) and user permissions. If you work in an office, you'll hear about 'control de calidad' (quality control) or 'control de asistencia' (attendance tracking). It's also the word used for remote controls—'el mando a distancia' in Spain, but often simply 'el control' in many Latin American countries.

In the Kitchen: 'Controlar el fuego' means to adjust the heat so the food doesn't burn.
At the Airport: 'Control de pasaportes' is where your documents are checked.

Es difícil controlar los nervios antes de un examen importante.

One of the most frequent errors English speakers make with controlar is assuming it always means 'to dominate'. While it can mean that, in Spanish, it is much more frequently used to mean 'to check' or 'to monitor'. If you want to say 'I checked my email,' you should use 'revisar,' but if you say 'I controlled my email,' it sounds like you are managing the server or the flow of data.

Error: Voy a controlar si tengo mensajes. (Better: Voy a revisar...)

Another mistake is the misuse of the reflexive form. 'Controlar' (transitive) needs an object, while 'controlarse' (reflexive) refers to the subject. Saying 'Me controlo la situación' is grammatically awkward; it should be 'Controlo la situación' or 'Me controlo' (I control myself).

False Friend Alert: In some contexts, 'to control' in English means to verify. In Spanish, 'verificar' or 'comprobar' are often more precise.
Preposition Pitfall: 'Controlar' does not usually take a preposition like 'de' or 'a' before its object. It's 'controlar algo', not 'controlar de algo'.

To truly master controlar, you must understand its neighbors in the semantic field. Words like dominar, gestionar, and revisar all touch upon the idea of control but from different angles. Understanding these differences will make your Spanish sound more natural and precise.

Dominar vs. Controlar: 'Dominar' implies total mastery or physical dominance (e.g., dominar un idioma), whereas 'controlar' is more about regulation.
Gestionar vs. Controlar: 'Gestionar' is 'to manage' or 'to process' (e.g., gestionar un trámite), focusing on the steps taken to achieve a result.
Vigilar vs. Controlar: 'Vigilar' is 'to watch over' or 'to guard', focusing on the act of looking, while 'controlar' includes the power to intervene.

Él domina el piano, pero no puede controlar su pánico escénico.

How Formal Is It?

난이도

알아야 할 문법

Direct object pronouns with 'controlar'

Reflexive pronoun placement

Subjunctive with verbs of will/influence

Passive 'se' constructions

Gerund forms for ongoing monitoring

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

수준별 예문

Yo controlo la radio.

I control the radio.

Present tense, 1st person singular.

¿Puedes controlar el volumen?

Can you control the volume?

Infinitive after 'poder'.

Ella controla el juguete.

She controls the toy.

Present tense, 3rd person singular.

Nosotros controlamos la luz.

We control the light.

Present tense, 1st person plural.

Ellos no controlan el perro.

They don't control the dog.

Negative sentence.

Tú controlas el juego.

You control the game.

Informal 'tú' form.

Él controla su bicicleta.

He controls his bicycle.

Possessive adjective 'su'.

Usted controla la entrada.

You (formal) control the entrance.

Formal 'usted' form.

Debo controlar mis gastos este mes.

I must control my expenses this month.

Modal verb 'deber' + infinitive.

El médico controla mi peso.

The doctor monitors my weight.

Usage meaning 'to monitor'.

Tienes que controlarte un poco.

You have to control yourself a bit.

Reflexive verb 'controlarse'.

Controlo el correo todos los días.

I check the mail every day.

Daily habit context.

No podemos controlar el clima.

We cannot control the weather.

General truth.

Ella controla la lista de invitados.

She manages the guest list.

Administrative context.

El profesor controla la asistencia.

The teacher checks attendance.

Classroom context.

Necesito controlar la presión del aire.

I need to check the air pressure.

Technical monitoring.

Es difícil controlar el tráfico en la ciudad.

It is difficult to control the traffic in the city.

Impersonal 'es + adjective' structure.

El jefe controla todos los detalles del proyecto.

The boss controls all the project details.

Professional oversight.

Espero que controles tus nervios en la entrevista.

I hope you control your nerves in the interview.

Present subjunctive after 'esperar que'.

La empresa controla la calidad de sus productos.

The company controls the quality of its products.

Business terminology.

Han controlado el incendio forestal.

They have controlled the forest fire.

Present perfect tense.

Siempre controlo mi cuenta bancaria por internet.

I always check my bank account online.

Digital context.

El gobierno quiere controlar la inflación.

The government wants to control inflation.

Economic context.

Si no te controlas, tendrás problemas.

If you don't control yourself, you will have problems.

First conditional.

El sistema controla automáticamente la temperatura.

The system automatically controls the temperature.

Adverb 'automáticamente'.

Es fundamental controlar las variables del experimento.

It is fundamental to control the variables of the experiment.

Scientific context.

A pesar de los problemas, ella controló la situación.

Despite the problems, she controlled the situation.

Preterite tense.

El software permite controlar el acceso a la red.

The software allows controlling access to the network.

IT context.

No dejes que tus emociones te controlen.

Don't let your emotions control you.

Negative imperative + subjunctive.

La policía controló a los manifestantes pacíficamente.

The police controlled the protesters peacefully.

Social order context.

El piloto controlaba el avión con gran habilidad.

The pilot was controlling the plane with great skill.

Imperfect tense for description.

Es necesario controlar el crecimiento urbano.

It is necessary to control urban growth.

Urban planning context.

El autor controla magistralmente el suspense en la novela.

The author masterfully controls the suspense in the novel.

Literary analysis context.

Resulta imperativo controlar la deuda pública.

It is imperative to control the public debt.

Formal academic register.

La empresa matriz controla varias filiales en el extranjero.

The parent company controls several subsidiaries abroad.

Corporate structure context.

El fármaco ayuda a controlar los síntomas de la enfermedad.

The drug helps to control the symptoms of the disease.

Medical/Pharmacological context.

Es difícil controlar el impacto de las redes sociales.

It is difficult to control the impact of social networks.

Sociological discussion.

El director controla cada aspecto de la producción cinematográfica.

The director controls every aspect of the film production.

Artistic oversight.

Se deben controlar las emisiones de carbono urgentemente.

Carbon emissions must be controlled urgently.

Passive 'se' with obligation.

El orador controló sus palabras para no ofender a nadie.

The speaker controlled his words so as not to offend anyone.

Nuanced communication.

La cibernética se ocupa de cómo los sistemas se controlan a sí mismos.

Cybernetics deals with how systems control themselves.

Scientific/Philosophical context.

El Estado busca controlar el relato histórico oficial.

The State seeks to control the official historical narrative.

Political/Critical theory.

Resulta utópico pretender controlar el azar.

It is utopian to try to control chance.

Philosophical abstraction.

La arquitectura gótica controla las fuerzas de empuje mediante arbotantes.

Gothic architecture controls thrust forces through flying buttresses.

Technical/Historical context.

El mercado no se puede controlar mediante decretos simplistas.

The market cannot be controlled through simplistic decrees.

Economic theory.

Aquel dictador controlaba hasta el más mínimo pensamiento de sus súbditos.

That dictator controlled even the slightest thought of his subjects.

Literary hyperbole.

Controlar el flujo de información es la clave del poder moderno.

Controlling the flow of information is the key to modern power.

Political science context.

La meditación permite controlar los procesos fisiológicos involuntarios.

Meditation allows for the control of involuntary physiological processes.

Advanced biological context.

자주 쓰는 조합

Controlar la situación

Controlar los gastos

Controlar los nervios

Controlar el acceso

Controlar la calidad

Controlar el tráfico

Controlar el peso

Controlar la temperatura

Controlar el tiempo

Controlar las emociones

자주 쓰는 구문

Bajo control

Control de calidad

Control remoto

Perder el control

Tomar el control

Control de pasaportes

Fuera de control

Control de natalidad

Control de plagas

Punto de control

자주 혼동되는 단어

controlar vs Revisar

Revisar is to check for errors; controlar is to monitor or govern.

controlar vs Manejar

Manejar is to handle or drive; controlar is to oversee or restrain.

controlar vs Comprobar

Comprobar is to verify a fact; controlar is to keep a process in check.

관용어 및 표현

"Tener todo bajo control"

"Perder los estribos (synonym for losing control)"

"Mantener la calma"

"Llevar las riendas"

"Estar al mando"

"No tener pelos en la lengua (lack of verbal control)"

"Atar corto a alguien"

"Poner freno a algo"

"Tener la sartén por el mango"

"Cortar el bacalao"

혼동하기 쉬운

controlar vs

문장 패턴

무료 가입하고 모든 예문 보기

사용법

monitor

Very common for checking levels or lists.

authority

Implies power over the object.

reflexive

Use 'controlarse' for self-restraint.

자주 하는 실수

Using 'controlar' for 'checking a box' (use 'marcar').
Forgetting the reflexive 'se' in 'controlarse'.
Saying 'controlar a' for objects (it's just 'controlar algo').
Confusing it with 'manejar' when talking about driving.
Using it to mean 'to verify a fact' (use 'comprobar').

팁

Reflexive Use

Always use 'me', 'te', 'se' etc. when talking about controlling your own emotions.

Synonyms

Use 'revisar' for checking homework and 'controlar' for checking heart rate.

Regionalism

In Mexico, you'll hear 'pásame el control' for the TV remote.

Stress

The stress is on the 'ar' at the end. con-tro-LAR.

Quality Control

In business, 'control de calidad' is a very common and important phrase.

Monitoring

Doctors 'controlan' your health, meaning they keep an eye on it.

Security

Airports have 'controles de seguridad' where they check your bags.

Chores

You can 'controlar' the inventory of your fridge.

Calm

If someone is angry, tell them '¡Contrólate!' (Control yourself!).

IT

Admins 'controlan' access to websites and servers.

암기하기

기억법

CON-trol the TROLL in the LAR (large) room.

어원

From French 'contrôler', from 'contre-rôle' (counter-roll), a duplicate register used for verification.

문화적 맥락

Uses 'mando a distancia' for remote control.

High value on emotional self-control in professional settings.

Uses 'el control' for remote control.

실생활에서 연습하기

실제 사용 상황

대화 시작하기

"¿Cómo controlas el estrés?"

"¿Quién controla el mando en tu casa?"

"¿Es fácil controlar tus gastos?"

"¿Crees que el gobierno controla demasiado?"

"¿Cómo controlas tu tiempo de estudio?"

일기 주제

Escribe sobre una situación que no pudiste controlar.

¿Cómo controlas tus emociones cuando estás triste?

Describe cómo controlas tu dinero cada mes.

¿Qué cosas en el mundo te gustaría controlar?

Reflexiona sobre la importancia de controlarse a uno mismo.

자주 묻는 질문

10 질문

No, it often simply means to check or monitor, like checking a ticket or a list.

It's better to use 'revisar' or 'mirar' for checking email. 'Controlar' sounds like you are managing the email system.

Yes, it follows the standard conjugation for -ar verbs in all tenses.

Both mean remote control. 'El mando' is more common in Spain, while 'el control' is common in Latin America.

You can say 'autocontrol' or 'control de sí mismo'.

Yes, it means to bring the ball under control, like 'controlar el balón'.

Yes, but it can sound negative (to be controlling) unless it's in a professional context like 'controlar a la multitud'.

It means 'under control', used just like in English.

Yes, 'el control' is the noun form.

You say 'perder el control'.

무료 가입하고 팁과 노트 보기