Interpretar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb interpretar means to interpret, to perform, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Interpretar means to interpret or to perform, and it covers playing a role on stage, performing a song, interpreting a dream and interpreting data in a report. It is a fully regular -ar verb, and the context tells you whether it is about art or about meaning. Like every Spanish verb, interpretar changes its ending for each person and tense, and this page gives you the complete picture: every tense, every person, the gerund and the past participle, all from the verified conjugation tables. For example, in the present tense you say interpreto el papel de Hamlet, and in the preterite you say interpreté el sueño de anoche. Work through the tables below, read the notes for each tense, and then test yourself with the examples, the common mistakes and the quiz at the end of the page.
Quick facts
- Infinitive: interpretar
- English: to interpret, to perform
- Verb type: regular -ar verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: interpretando
- Past participle: interpretado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + interpretado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for interpretar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Interpretar is fully regular: interpreté, interpretaba, interpretaré. It covers performing a role and explaining what something means.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for interpretar. The imperfect subjunctive is shown in its -ra forms; the -se forms use the same stem. For reflexive verbs, the pronoun column shows the reflexive pronoun that goes before each form.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | interpreto |
| tú | interpretas |
| él/ella/Ud. | interpreta |
| nosotros/as | interpretamos |
| vosotros/as | interpretáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | interpretan |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | interpreté |
| tú | interpretaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | interpretó |
| nosotros/as | interpretamos |
| vosotros/as | interpretasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | interpretaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | interpretaba |
| tú | interpretabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | interpretaba |
| nosotros/as | interpretábamos |
| vosotros/as | interpretabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | interpretaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | interpretaré |
| tú | interpretarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | interpretará |
| nosotros/as | interpretaremos |
| vosotros/as | interpretaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | interpretarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | interpretaría |
| tú | interpretarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | interpretaría |
| nosotros/as | interpretaríamos |
| vosotros/as | interpretaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | interpretarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he interpretado |
| tú | has interpretado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha interpretado |
| nosotros/as | hemos interpretado |
| vosotros/as | habéis interpretado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han interpretado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había interpretado |
| tú | habías interpretado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había interpretado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos interpretado |
| vosotros/as | habíais interpretado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían interpretado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré interpretado |
| tú | habrás interpretado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá interpretado |
| nosotros/as | habremos interpretado |
| vosotros/as | habréis interpretado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán interpretado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría interpretado |
| tú | habrías interpretado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría interpretado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos interpretado |
| vosotros/as | habríais interpretado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían interpretado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | interprete |
| tú | interpretes |
| él/ella/Ud. | interprete |
| nosotros/as | interpretemos |
| vosotros/as | interpretéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | interpreten |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | interpretara |
| tú | interpretaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | interpretara |
| nosotros/as | interpretáramos |
| vosotros/as | interpretarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | interpretaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | interpreta |
| él/ella/Ud. | interprete |
| nosotros/as | interpretemos |
| vosotros/as | interpretad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | interpreten |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | interpretes |
| él/ella/Ud. | interprete |
| nosotros/as | interpretemos |
| vosotros/as | interpretéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | interpreten |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | interpretando | with estar for the progressive: estoy interpretando |
| Past participle | interpretado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he interpretado |
How to use each tense
Present indicative
Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For interpretar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Interpreto el papel de Hamlet. Learn the present forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Preterite
Use the preterite for finished actions with a clear end, often with ayer, el año pasado or anoche. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For interpretar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, interpreté la canción en el concierto. Learn the preterite forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperfect
Use the imperfect for background, habits and actions in progress in the past, often with de niño, antes or mientras. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For interpretar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, interpretaba el sueño de anoche. Learn the imperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Future
Use the future for plans, predictions and promises, often with mañana, el año que viene or pronto. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For interpretar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, interpretaré los datos del estudio. Learn the future forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Conditional
Use the conditional for polite requests, hypotheticals and what would happen, often with si clauses. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For interpretar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Interpretaría el papel de Hamlet si pudiera. Learn the conditional forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Present perfect
Use the present perfect for recent actions and experiences, often with hoy, esta semana or ya. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For interpretar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he interpretado la canción en el concierto. Learn the present perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Pluperfect
Use the pluperfect when one past action happened before another past action. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For interpretar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había interpretado el sueño de anoche antes de salir. Learn the pluperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Future perfect
Use the future perfect for something that will already be finished by a future time. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For interpretar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré interpretado los datos del estudio. Learn the future perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Conditional perfect
Use the conditional perfect for what would have happened under different conditions. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For interpretar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría interpretado el papel de Hamlet con más tiempo. Learn the conditional perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Present subjunctive
Use the present subjunctive after expressions of wish, doubt, emotion and hope, such as espero que or quiero que. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For interpretar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él interprete la canción en el concierto. Learn the present subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
Use the imperfect subjunctive after past wishes and in si clauses about the past, and note the -ra forms shown here; the -se forms use the same stem. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For interpretar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él interpretara el sueño de anoche, todo cambiaría. Learn the imperfect subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperative (affirmative)
Use the affirmative imperative for direct commands, instructions and invitations. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For interpretar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Interpreta los datos del estudio! Learn the affirmative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperative (negative)
Use the negative imperative, always with no, to tell someone not to do something. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For interpretar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No interpretes el papel de Hamlet. Learn the negative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with interpretar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Interpreto el papel de Hamlet. — I interpret the role of Hamlet.
- Interpreta la canción en el concierto. — He/she interprets the song at the concert.
- Ayer, interpreté el sueño de anoche. — Yesterday, I interpreted last night's dream.
- Antes, nosotros interpretábamos los datos del estudio. — Before, we used to interpret the figures from the study.
- Mañana, tú interpretarás el papel de Hamlet. — Tomorrow, you will interpret the role of Hamlet.
- Yo interpretaría la canción en el concierto si tuviera más tiempo. — I would interpret the song at the concert if I had more time.
- Él ha interpretado el sueño de anoche. — He has interpreted last night's dream.
- Espero que él interprete los datos del estudio. — I hope he interprets the figures from the study.
- Yo ya había interpretado el papel de Hamlet antes de salir. — I had already interpreted the role of Hamlet before leaving.
- Ellos interpretaban la canción en el concierto cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to interpret the song at the concert when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo interpreta el papel de Hamlet. — Right: Yo interpreto el papel de Hamlet. — The person matters: interpreta is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is interpreto. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Vosotros interpretais la canción en el concierto. — Right: Vosotros interpretáis la canción en el concierto. — The vosotros present form carries a written accent: interpretáis, not interpretais. The accent marks the stressed vowel.
- Wrong: Treating interpretar and actuar as identical in every context. — Right: Interpretar means to interpret, to perform, while actuar means to act, the stage partner. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: interpretar fits sentences such as Interpreto el papel de Hamlet, while actuar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy interpretado la canción en el concierto. — Right: Yo he interpretado la canción en el concierto. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he interpretado, has interpretado, ha interpretado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo interpreté el sueño de anoche todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo interpretaba el sueño de anoche todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (interpretaba), not the preterite. The preterite (interpreté) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on interpretar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ el papel de Hamlet. (present tense) A. interpreto B. interpretas C. interpreta D. interpretamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ la canción en el concierto. (preterite) A. interpreté B. interpretaste C. interpretaron D. interpretó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ el sueño de anoche. (imperfect) A. interpretabas B. interpretaban C. interpretábamos D. interpretaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ los datos del estudio. (future) A. interpretaremos B. interpretarás C. interpretaré D. interpretará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ el papel de Hamlet si pudiera. (conditional) A. interpretaría B. interpretarías C. interpretarían D. interpreto
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ la canción en el concierto. (present subjunctive) A. interpretes B. interpretemos C. interpreto D. interprete
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ el sueño de anoche, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. interpretáramos B. interpreto C. interpretara D. interpretaras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ los datos del estudio. (present perfect) A. han interpretado B. hemos interpretado C. he interpretado D. has interpretado
Complete the command: ¡___ el papel de Hamlet! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. interpreta B. interprete C. interpretemos D. interpretad
Which is the gerund of interpretar, used with estar for the progressive? A. interpretado B. interpreto C. interpreté D. interpretando
Answer key
- interpreto — The first-person present of interpretar is interpreto. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- interpretó — The third-person preterite of interpretar is interpretó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- interpretábamos — The nosotros imperfect of interpretar is interpretábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- interpretarás — The second-person future of interpretar is interpretarás.
- interpretaría — The first-person conditional of interpretar is interpretaría, the form for what would happen.
- interprete — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of interpretar is interprete.
- interpretara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of interpretar is interpretara.
- hemos interpretado — The nosotros present perfect of interpretar is hemos interpretado: hemos + interpretado.
- interpreta — The affirmative tú imperative of interpretar is interpreta.
- interpretando — The gerund of interpretar is interpretando: estoy interpretando. The participle interpretado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does interpretar mean in English?
Interpretar means to interpret, to perform. It is used in everyday situations such as Interpreto el papel de Hamlet. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is interpretar regular or irregular?
Interpretar is a fully regular -ar verb, so every tense follows the standard endings for its class. Once you know the regular pattern, you can produce every form on this page, including interpreto in the present and interpreté in the preterite.
What is the difference between interpretar and actuar?
Interpretar means to interpret, to perform, while actuar means to act, the stage partner. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use interpretar when you mean to interpret, to perform, as in Interpreto el papel de Hamlet, and use actuar for to act, the stage partner. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I interpret” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo interpreté la canción en el concierto. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo interpretaba el sueño de anoche. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he interpretado la canción en el concierto.
How do I practise interpretar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the interpretar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Interpretar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for interpretar.
- Interpretar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for interpretar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Actuar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with interpretar.
- Narrar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with interpretar.
- Grabar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with interpretar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.