aclarar em 30 segundos
- Aclarar means to clarify, explain, or rinse.
- It is used for both abstract ideas and physical objects.
- Commonly used for weather clearing and clearing the throat.
- Essential for resolving misunderstandings in conversation.
The Spanish verb aclarar is a multifaceted gem in the linguistic crown of the Romance languages. At its core, it derives from the adjective claro (clear), and its primary function is to describe the process of moving from a state of obscurity, confusion, or turbidity to one of transparency and light. Whether you are dealing with a muddy glass of water, a confusing set of instructions, or a cloudy sky, aclarar is the go-to verb to describe that transition toward clarity.
- Physical Transparency
- Used when a liquid becomes clear or when you rinse soap out of something.
- Intellectual Clarity
- The act of explaining a concept so it is no longer misunderstood.
- Meteorological Change
- When the clouds part and the sun begins to shine.
- Vocal Preparation
- The act of clearing one's throat to speak or sing better.
"Antes de empezar la conferencia, el profesor tuvo que aclarar los puntos principales del programa para que nadie se perdiera."
In a metaphorical sense, aclarar acts as a bridge between ignorance and knowledge. When a situation is 'dark' (oscuro), it is dangerous or uncertain. By 'aclarando' the situation, you are effectively bringing light to it, making it safe and navigable. This is why it is so frequently used in legal, academic, and personal contexts where misunderstandings can have significant consequences.
"El cielo empezó a aclarar justo después de la tormenta, dejando ver un arcoíris espectacular."
Furthermore, the verb can be used reflexively as aclararse. This is common when a person is trying to organize their own thoughts. If you say "Necesito aclararme", you are literally saying "I need to clear myself up," or more naturally, "I need to get my thoughts straight." This internal application highlights the verb's versatility in addressing both external reality and internal mental states.
"Después de lavar el cabello, es fundamental aclarar bien con agua tibia para eliminar todo el champú."
- Context: Haircare
- In Spain, 'aclarar' is the standard term for rinsing hair or clothes.
- Context: Cooking
- Used when thinning a sauce or rinsing vegetables.
"El testigo tuvo que aclarar su testimonio ante el juez debido a varias contradicciones."
In summary, aclarar is about the removal of obstacles to sight or understanding. It is a positive, constructive verb that seeks to establish truth and visibility. Whether you are clarifying a soup, a sky, or a complex philosophical argument, you are performing the act of aclarar.
Using aclarar correctly requires understanding its transitivity and its reflexive forms. As a transitive verb, it takes a direct object—the thing that is being made clear. As an intransitive verb, it often refers to the weather. As a reflexive verb, it refers to the subject's own state of mind or physical state.
1. Clarifying Information (Transitive)
When you want to clarify a doubt, a point, or a situation, you use the structure: [Subject] + aclarar + [Object]. For example, "El jefe aclaró las nuevas reglas." Here, the rules are the object being clarified.
"¿Podrías aclarar este punto del contrato? No lo entiendo bien."
2. Rinsing (Physical Use)
In the context of cleaning, aclarar means to rinse with water to remove soap or detergent. This is extremely common in household chores. "Aclara los platos antes de secarlos."
3. The Weather (Intransitive)
When the sky clears up, we use aclarar without a direct object. "Parece que va a aclarar pronto." (It looks like it's going to clear up soon). You don't need to say qué is clearing; the context of the sky is implied.
4. Reflexive: Aclararse
This is used when someone is confused and needs to sort out their thoughts. "No sé qué carrera elegir, necesito aclararme." It can also be used for the voice: "Se aclaró la garganta antes de hablar" (He cleared his throat).
In formal writing, aclarar is often followed by a subordinate clause starting with 'que'. "El comunicado aclara que no habrá despidos." This is a very common structure in news and business reports.
The verb aclarar is ubiquitous across the Spanish-speaking world, but the specific frequency of its various meanings can change depending on the setting. You will encounter it in professional, domestic, and natural environments.
In the Workplace
In meetings, you will constantly hear: "Déjame aclarar una cosa..." (Let me clarify one thing...). It is a polite way to interrupt and ensure there is no misunderstanding. Project managers use it to 'aclarar dudas' (clear up doubts) at the end of a presentation.
At Home
If you are helping with the laundry or the dishes in a Spanish home, someone might tell you: "Aclara bien la ropa para que no quede jabón." In a beauty salon, the stylist will ask: "¿Te aclaro ya el tinte?" (Shall I rinse out the dye now?).
In the News and Weather
Weather forecasters are fond of this verb. "Por la tarde el tiempo aclarará en el norte de la península." In political news, spokespeople are always 'aclarando' their previous statements after a controversy.
In Literature and Music
Poets often use aclarar to describe the dawn (el amanecer). As the sun rises, it 'aclara el día'. In songs, you might hear about 'aclarar el corazón' or 'aclarar el alma', referring to finding emotional peace or truth.
Even though aclarar seems straightforward, learners often stumble on its nuances and prepositional requirements. Here are the most frequent pitfalls to avoid.
- Confusing with 'Explicar': While similar, explicar is general. Aclarar implies there was a specific confusion or 'darkness' to begin with. Don't use aclarar for a first-time lesson; use it for a follow-up clarification.
- Preposition Overuse: Learners often try to say "aclarar sobre algo". In Spanish, you usually aclarar algo (direct object). You don't need 'sobre' or 'de'. Correct: "Quiero aclarar mi postura." Incorrect: "Quiero aclarar sobre mi postura."
- Reflexive Confusion: Using aclarar when you mean aclararse. If you are the one who is confused, you must say "Me quiero aclarar." If you say "Quiero aclarar," people will wait for you to say what you want to clarify.
- The 'Rinse' vs. 'Wash' distinction: Aclarar is only the rinsing part. If you say you are going to 'aclarar los platos', it implies they are already soapy. If they are dirty, you need 'lavar'.
- Weather Agreement: Don't use 'hace' with aclarar. It's not "hace aclarar", it's simply "está aclarando" or "va a aclarar".
Spanish has several verbs that overlap with aclarar. Knowing the difference will make your Spanish sound more precise and sophisticated.
- Clarificar
- Very similar to 'aclarar', but often used in more technical or chemical contexts (like clarifying butter or a liquid in a lab). In figurative use, it's more formal than 'aclarar'.
- Dilucidar
- A high-level academic term meaning to explain or settle a complex matter through deep analysis. You 'dilucidar' a mystery or a complex legal point.
- Enjuagar
- The specific synonym for rinsing with water. While 'aclarar' is common in Spain for this, 'enjuagar' is the primary term in most of Latin America.
- Despejar
- Used for clearing a space or clearing up doubts (despejar dudas). It's also the term used in math for 'solving for x' (despejar la x).
- Explicar
- The general term for explaining. It doesn't carry the specific 'making clear' nuance of 'aclarar'.
Choosing between these depends on the 'flavor' of clarity you want to convey. If you want to sound everyday and practical, stick with aclarar. If you are writing a thesis, dilucidar or clarificar might be better choices.
How Formal Is It?
Nível de dificuldade
Gramática essencial
Direct object pronouns with infinitive
Reflexive verbs for mental states
Impersonal 'se' for processes
Subjunctive after 'espero que'
Preterite vs Imperfect for descriptions
Exemplos por nível
Yo aclaro los platos con agua.
I rinse the dishes with water.
Present tense, 1st person singular.
¿Puedes aclarar la tarea?
Can you clarify the homework?
Infinitive after a modal verb.
El agua se aclara poco a poco.
The water is clearing up little by little.
Reflexive use for a process.
Ella aclara su pelo en la ducha.
She rinses her hair in the shower.
Direct object 'su pelo'.
Nosotros aclaramos las dudas hoy.
We clarify the doubts today.
Present tense, 1st person plural.
El profesor aclara la lección.
The teacher clarifies the lesson.
Standard transitive use.
Aclara el vaso, por favor.
Rinse the glass, please.
Imperative (tú).
El cielo está claro.
The sky is clear.
Adjective related to the verb.
Mañana va a aclarar el tiempo.
The weather is going to clear up tomorrow.
Future with 'ir a'.
Él se aclaró la garganta antes de cantar.
He cleared his throat before singing.
Pretérito Indefinido, reflexive.
Necesito aclarar este mensaje de texto.
I need to clarify this text message.
Infinitive use.
Aclaramos el problema ayer por la tarde.
We cleared up the problem yesterday afternoon.
Pretérito Indefinido.
¿Me puedes aclarar por qué llegas tarde?
Can you clarify to me why you are late?
Indirect object pronoun 'me'.
El café se aclara si le pones leche.
The coffee gets lighter if you put milk in it.
Reflexive use meaning 'to lighten'.
Aclara bien el jabón de la esponja.
Rinse the soap well from the sponge.
Imperative.
No entiendo, ¿puedes aclararlo?
I don't understand, can you clarify it?
Direct object pronoun 'lo' attached to infinitive.
Es importante aclarar cualquier malentendido pronto.
It's important to clarify any misunderstanding soon.
Infinitive as subject.
El guía aclaró las normas del recorrido.
The guide clarified the rules of the tour.
Past tense.
Si no te aclaras, no podemos tomar una decisión.
If you don't clear your mind, we can't make a decision.
Reflexive 'aclararse' (mental).
El cielo empezó a aclarar tras la tormenta.
The sky started to clear up after the storm.
Periphrasis 'empezar a'.
Quisiera aclarar que mi intención no fue ofender.
I would like to clarify that my intention was not to offend.
Polite conditional 'quisiera'.
Aclara la pintura con un poco de agua.
Thin the paint with a little water.
Technical use (thinning).
El testigo aclaró su declaración ante la policía.
The witness clarified his statement to the police.
Formal context.
Espero que se aclare la situación política.
I hope the political situation clears up.
Present Subjunctive.
El portavoz aclaró que no habrá cambios en la ley.
The spokesperson clarified that there will be no changes in the law.
Reported speech.
Antes de seguir, conviene aclarar un par de conceptos.
Before continuing, it's advisable to clarify a couple of concepts.
Impersonal 'conviene'.
Me he aclarado mucho después de hablar contigo.
I've cleared my head a lot after talking to you.
Pretérito Perfecto, reflexive.
La lluvia paró y el horizonte se aclaró de repente.
The rain stopped and the horizon cleared suddenly.
Reflexive weather use.
Debemos aclarar el origen de estos fondos.
We must clarify the origin of these funds.
Modal 'deber'.
Aclara el matiz de tus palabras, por favor.
Clarify the nuance of your words, please.
Abstract use.
El sol aclaraba el color de las cortinas.
The sun was lightening the color of the curtains.
Imperfect tense (gradual action).
No se aclaró el misterio hasta el final del libro.
The mystery wasn't cleared up until the end of the book.
Passive 'se'.
Es imperativo aclarar las ambigüedades del contrato.
It is imperative to clarify the ambiguities of the contract.
High-level vocabulary.
La investigación no logró aclarar las causas del accidente.
The investigation failed to clarify the causes of the accident.
Formal negative structure.
Aclaremos los términos antes de proceder a la firma.
Let's clarify the terms before proceeding to the signing.
Hortatory Subjunctive (Let's...).
Sus palabras solo sirvieron para aclarar su ignorancia.
His words only served to clarify (reveal) his ignorance.
Ironical/Figurative use.
El autor intenta aclarar la dicotomía entre fe y razón.
The author attempts to clarify the dichotomy between faith and reason.
Academic context.
A medida que subíamos, el aire se aclaraba.
As we climbed, the air became clearer.
Reflexive, gradual process.
Sería de gran ayuda que aclararas tu postura oficial.
It would be of great help if you clarified your official stance.
Imperfect Subjunctive.
El fiscal pidió aclarar ciertos puntos del testimonio.
The prosecutor asked to clarify certain points of the testimony.
Legal register.
La resolución judicial pretende aclarar el vacío legal existente.
The judicial resolution aims to clarify the existing legal vacuum.
Sophisticated legal terminology.
Sus memorias aclaran los entresijos del poder en esa época.
His memoirs clarify the inner workings of power at that time.
Metaphorical 'entresijos'.
El análisis espectroscópico aclaró la composición de la estrella.
The spectroscopic analysis clarified the composition of the star.
Scientific register.
No basta con explicar, hay que aclarar la ontología del ser.
It's not enough to explain; one must clarify the ontology of being.
Philosophical context.
La luz del alba aclaraba las sombras del valle.
The dawn light was clearing the shadows of the valley.
Literary/Poetic use.
Es necesario aclarar la génesis de este conflicto histórico.
It is necessary to clarify the genesis of this historical conflict.
Academic/Historical register.
La nueva normativa viene a aclarar un panorama incierto.
The new regulation comes to clarify an uncertain landscape.
Periphrasis 'venir a'.
El discurso no hizo sino aclarar sus verdaderas intenciones.
The speech did nothing but clarify his true intentions.
Restrictive structure 'no hizo sino'.
Colocações comuns
Frases Comuns
Frequentemente confundido com
Explicar is general; aclarar is for resolving confusion.
Limpiar is to clean; aclarar is specifically to rinse or make clear.
Declarar is to state; aclarar is to make that statement clear.
Expressões idiomáticas
Fácil de confundir
Padrões de frases
Família de palavras
Substantivos
Verbos
Adjetivos
Como usar
Very versatile verb.
Specific to rinsing or lightening color.
Crucial for mental clarity.
- Saying 'aclarar sobre el problema' instead of 'aclarar el problema'.
- Using 'hace aclarar' for the weather.
- Confusing 'aclarar' with 'limpiar' for dirty dishes.
- Forgetting the 'se' in 'aclararse la garganta'.
- Using it as a synonym for 'decir' without the 'clarity' nuance.
Dicas
Doubt Buster
Always pair 'aclarar' with 'dudas' in your mind. It's the most common collocation.
Reflexive Power
Use 'aclararse' when you feel confused. 'No me aclaro' is a very natural way to say 'I'm confused'.
Conversation Filler
Use 'Para aclarar...' at the start of a sentence to give yourself time to think.
Regional Choice
If you are in Mexico, try 'enjuagar' for dishes, but use 'aclarar' for ideas.
Formal Tone
In emails, 'Quisiera aclarar que...' sounds very professional.
Weather Watch
Listen for 'aclarará' in weather forecasts; it's a sign of good news!
The 'R' sound
Make sure the 'cl' sound is crisp and the 'r' is tapped.
Visual Link
Visualize a muddy pond becoming clear water.
Lighten Up
Remember it also means to make a color lighter (like adding white to blue).
Preposition Alert
Don't use 'de' or 'sobre' after aclarar. Just 'aclarar algo'.
Memorize
Origem da palavra
Latin
Contexto cultural
Very common for rinsing (hair, dishes).
Used in legal and academic documents frequently.
Often replaced by 'enjuagar' for rinsing, but used for 'clarifying'.
Pratique na vida real
Contextos reais
Iniciadores de conversa
"¿Podrías aclararme cómo funciona este sistema?"
"¿Crees que el tiempo va a aclarar para el fin de semana?"
"Necesito aclararme, ¿qué piensas tú de este tema?"
"¿Me aclaras la diferencia entre estos dos términos?"
"¿Cómo aclaras tú el pelo después del tinte?"
Temas para diário
Escribe sobre una situación que tuviste que aclarar con un amigo.
¿Qué cosas haces para aclararte las ideas cuando estás estresado?
Describe cómo aclara el cielo después de una gran tormenta.
Aclara tus metas para el próximo año en este párrafo.
¿Qué concepto de español te gustaría que tu profesor aclarara hoy?
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasAclarar implies there was a previous doubt or confusion, while explicar is simply giving information.
Sí, significa quitar el jabón de la ropa con agua limpia.
Signifies clearing your throat so you can speak more clearly.
Sí, sigue el modelo de 'amar' en todos los tiempos.
Se dice 'aclarar' o 'despejarse'.
Es mejor decir 'aclarar una duda' o 'responder una pregunta'.
Can mean rinsing shampoo out or making the hair color lighter.
Sí, para aclarar testimonios o sentencias.
To think clearly and organize your thoughts.
Sí, aunque en algunos prefieren 'enjuagar' para los platos.
Teste-se 180 perguntas
/ 180 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
The verb 'aclarar' is your primary tool for moving from confusion to clarity, whether you are rinsing a dish, explaining a difficult concept, or waiting for the sun to come out.
- Aclarar means to clarify, explain, or rinse.
- It is used for both abstract ideas and physical objects.
- Commonly used for weather clearing and clearing the throat.
- Essential for resolving misunderstandings in conversation.
Doubt Buster
Always pair 'aclarar' with 'dudas' in your mind. It's the most common collocation.
Reflexive Power
Use 'aclararse' when you feel confused. 'No me aclaro' is a very natural way to say 'I'm confused'.
Conversation Filler
Use 'Para aclarar...' at the start of a sentence to give yourself time to think.
Regional Choice
If you are in Mexico, try 'enjuagar' for dishes, but use 'aclarar' for ideas.
Exemplo
Me gustaría aclarar un punto sobre lo que dijiste.
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acento
A2Ele tem um sotaque brasileiro muito forte.
aceptar
A1Aceitar. Ele decidiu aceitar o convite para a festa.
acerca de
A2Sobre; a respeito de. Usado para introduzir o assunto de uma conversa ou texto.
acertado
A2Significa correto, apropriado ou bem escolhido.
aclaración
A2Uma aclaración é uma clarificação, o ato de tornar algo mais compreensível.
aconsejar
A2Aconselhar ou dar orientação a alguém.
acuerdo
A2Um acordo ou um entendimento mútuo.
de acuerdo
A1De acordo. Usado para expressar consentimento ou aprovação. 'Estou de acordo com você.'
Adiós
A1Goodbye
admitir
A2Ele teve que admitir que estava errado.
