dibujar
/dibuˈxaɾ/
To draw is dibujar in Spanish.
dibujar means to create a picture or design by making lines and marks on paper with a pen or pencil. While dibujar is the standard verb, you might use the formal phrase Realizar un dibujo to emphasize the actual act of creating a drawing.
Which one should you use?
In informal settings, if you are describing someone making quick, messy or non-serious marks, you would use the phrase Hacer garabatos, which means to doodle.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb dibujar changes depending on who is performing the action: Yo dibujo (I draw), Tú dibujas (you draw), Él/Ella dibuja (he/she draws), Nosotros dibujamos (we draw), Vosotros dibujáis (you all draw) and Ellos/Ellas dibujan (they draw). For the past tense, use dibujé to say "I drew" (preterite) and dibujaba to say "I used to draw" or "I was drawing" (imperfect). Additionally, the noun for a drawing is dibujo, which is derived from this verb.
How do you pronounce it?
/dibuˈxaɾ/
Did you know?
- The word dibujar comes from the Old French deboissier, which originally meant to clear land of trees and bushes.
- The phrase dibujar is used metaphorically in Spanish to describe the act of imagining or outlining a plan in one's mind, such as dibujarse un futuro.
- In some contexts, the related verb dibujarse can be used reflexively to mean 'to appear' or 'to take shape', such as when a landscape 'draws itself' in your vision.
Examples in context
- Me gusta mucho dibujar paisajesI really enjoy drawing landscapes
- El artista pinta y dibuja con gran maestríaThe artist paints and draws with great mastery
- Los estudiantes deben realizar un dibujo para la clase de arteThe students must make a drawing for the art class
- ¿Puedes coger un lápiz y papel para que dibujemos juntos?Can you grab a pencil and paper so we can draw together?
- ¿Me haces un dibujo, por favor?Can you draw something for me, please?
- El arquitecto necesita hacer un dibujo técnico para el proyectoThe architect needs to make a technical drawing for the project
- Me gusta dibujar en mi cuaderno.I like to draw in my notebook.
- ¿Quieres dibujar un paisaje?Do you want to draw a landscape?
- Él sabe dibujar muy bien.He knows how to draw very well.
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are at a park with sketchbooks.
- SofíaAlejandro, ¿puedes dibujar este árbol?Alejandro, can you draw this tree?
- AlejandroSí, me encanta dibujar la naturaleza.Yes, I love to draw nature.
- SofíaTu dibujo es muy bonito.Your drawing is very beautiful.
- AlejandroGracias, Sofía.Thank you, Sofía.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry dibujar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dibujar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
