escribir
/eskɾiˈbiɾ/
The English verb "write" is translated into Spanish as escribir.
escribir is the general verb used to form letters and words. Depending on your specific intent, other verbs may be more precise: anotar or apuntar are used when you want to jot down or take notes, while plasmar is used when you are expressing thoughts or ideas in writing. For more formal document composition, you might use redactar.
Meaning: to form letters, etc. (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
The present participle of escribir is escribiendo, which corresponds to the English "writing" form. For the preterite tense, escribí means "I wrote" and escribió means "he/she/it wrote". The present subjunctive form is escriba.
How do you pronounce it?
/eskɾiˈbiɾ/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, if you are 'writing' a check, you do not use escribir, but rather the verb librar or expedir.
- The expression escribir con sangre is used metaphorically in some Spanish literature to describe writing with extreme passion or profound suffering.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, if you want to say you are 'writing a text message', it is more common to use the verb mandar (to send) rather than escribir.
Examples in context
- Le escribiré a Tom.I'll write to Tom.This sentence shows how to use escribir to indicate writing to someone.Tatoeba #3777171 by marcelostockle, translation #3734624 by CK
- Sabe leer y escribir.He can read and write.This sentence uses escribir to describe the ability to read and write.Tatoeba #5138392 by don_ramon, translation #302097 by CK
- No puedo escribir más.I can't write anymore.This sentence uses escribir to express an inability to continue writing.Tatoeba #1535382 by marcelostockle, translation #1494556 by CM
- Por favor, escriba su nombre en este formularioPlease write your name on this form
- Deberá redactar un informe sobre los resultados del proyectoYou should write a report on the project results
- El escritor supo plasmar sus sentimientos en su novelaThe writer knew how to express his feelings in his novel
- Escríbeme un mensaje cuando llegues a casaWrite me a message when you get home
- Anota en tu lista de compras que necesitamos lecheWrite down on your shopping list that we need milk
- Voy a apuntar la dirección para que no la olvideI'm going to write down the address so I don't forget it
- Escribe tu ensayo y entrégalo mañana por la mañana.Write your essay and hand it in tomorrow morning.
- Él escribe hermosos poemas llenos de emoción.He writes beautiful poems full of emotion.
- Te voy a apuntar la dirección para que no la olvides.I'll write down the address for you so you don't forget.
- 373 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are at a cafe discussing a project.
- Javier¿Puedes escribir la dirección en este papel?Can you write the address on this paper?
- ElenaSí, voy a escribirla ahora mismo.Yes, I am going to write it right now.
- JavierGracias, Elena. Necesito anotarlo.Thanks, Elena. I need to note it down.
- ElenaDe nada, Javier. ¿Está bien así?You're welcome, Javier. Is it okay like this?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “write” translations and entries escribir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
