entrar
/enˈtɾaɾ/
To go inside in Spanish is entrar.
Entrar is a common and neutral term used to describe moving from the outside of a building or an enclosed space to the inside. While entrar is the standard way to express this, you may also see ingresar used to mean 'to enter'.
Which one should you use?
Entrar is used for the act of going inside, which is the opposite of salir, meaning to go outside or to exit.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to specify the place you are entering, entrar is commonly followed by the preposition en (entrar en). However, in many Spanish-speaking regions, entrar a is used interchangeably with entrar en to indicate entering a place.
How do you pronounce it?
/enˈtɾaɾ/
Did you know?
- If you use entrar to describe joining a conversation, it can imply that you are interrupting or forcing your way into the discussion, whereas unirse a is more polite.
- Spanish uses entrar to describe a sound or a smell that 'enters' a room, whereas English speakers typically say a smell 'wafts' or 'fills' a space.
- The word entrada derived from entrar refers not only to the act of entering but also to the physical ticket used to get inside a theater or stadium.
Examples in context
- Deberíamos entrar en la casa.We should go inside the house.This sentence uses entrar to show the suggestion of going inside a house.Tatoeba #1940662 by teskmon, translation #1304616 by candistyx
- ¡No puedes entrar a un templo perdido sin tu sombrero y látigo!You can't go inside a lost temple without your hat and whip!This sentence uses entrar to describe the inability to go inside a temple.Tatoeba #3523519 by marcelostockle, translation #3523518 by marcelostockle
- No quería entrar, así que lo agarró del pelo y lo arrastró adentro.He didn't want to go inside, so he grabbed him by the hair and dragged him in.This sentence uses entrar to describe someone not wanting to go inside.Tatoeba #8731788 by arh, translation #10283581 by LimeGreenTeknii
- Por favor, entre.Please go inside.
- Ingresa y ponte cómodo.Come inside and make yourself comfortable.
- Señor, por favor, entre a la sala de reuniones.Sir, please go inside the meeting room.
- Chicos, ya llegué. ¡Entren todos a la casa!Guys, I'm back. Everyone, go inside the house!
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are standing outside a café during a light drizzle.
- SofíaEstá empezando a llover, Alejandro.It is starting to rain, Alejandro.
- AlejandroTienes razón, deberíamos entrar en el café.You are right, we should go inside the café.
- Sofía¡Qué buena idea! Vamos a entrar.What a good idea! Let's go inside.
- AlejandroPerfecto, busca una mesa para nosotros.Perfect, look for a table for us.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry entrar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
