multiplicar
/multipliˈkaɾ/
To multiply in Spanish is multiplicar.
Meaning: to perform multiplication (verb)
Which one should you use?
If you want to refer to the mathematical process itself, you should use the noun multiplicación.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, when expressing the operation of multiplication, the word por is used.
How does it change in a sentence?
multiplicar is a regular -ar verb.
How do you pronounce it?
/multipliˈkaɾ/
Did you know?
- While multiplicar is the standard term, the ancient Vulgar Latin word muchiguar once competed for the same meaning before being displaced.
- The verb multiplicar is often used in religious contexts in Spanish to refer to the biblical miracle of the loaves and fishes.
- The word multiplicación can refer to both the mathematical operation and the biological process of cell division.
Examples in context
- La única forma en la Tierra de multiplicar la felicidad es dividirla.The only way on Earth to multiply happiness is to divide it.This sentence shows how to use multiplicar in a figurative sense regarding happiness.Tatoeba #475269 by Shishir, translation #2273 by Zifre
- En sentido estricto, un virus es un programa que no puede subsistir por si solo, es un programa que se instala como parásito de otro programa para multiplicarse y realizar acciones siniestras.Strictly speaking, a virus is a program that can't survive on its own, it's a program that installs itself as a parasite of another program to multiply and carry out sinister actions.This sentence shows the use of multiplicarse (a form of multiplicar) in a technical context regarding a computer virus.Tatoeba #1133060 by marcelostockle, translation #9321129 by DJ_Saidez
- Para resolver este problema, debes multiplicar los valores dados.To solve this problem, you must multiply the given values.
- Necesitamos hacer una multiplicación para encontrar la respuesta correcta.We need to do a multiplication to find the correct answer.
- Oye, ¿me puedes decir cómo multiplicar estos números?Hey, can you tell me how to multiply these numbers?
- La respuesta correcta es 5 por 3, lo que da 15.The correct answer is 5 times 3, which equals 15.
- ¿Sabes cuánto es 4 por 7? La respuesta es 28.¿Do you know what's 4 times 7? The answer is 28.
- Puedes multiplicar estos números para verificar el resultado.You can multiply these numbers to verify the result.
Example conversation
Two students are studying math together at a library.
- LucíaAlejandro, ¿sabes cómo multiplicar estas cifras?Alejandro, do you know how to multiply these figures?
- AlejandroSí, Lucía, solo tienes que seguir este paso.Yes, Lucía, you just have to follow this step.
- LucíaEs más fácil de lo que pensaba.It is easier than I thought.
- AlejandroExacto, la práctica hace al maestro.Exactly, practice makes perfect.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “multiply” translations and entries multiplicar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries multiplicar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
