Introducir

Introducir is a Spanish verb with several related senses centered on passing something from outside to inside or bringing someone into contact with others. The most common meanings include to present someone to a group or to introduce a topic or idea; to insert or place something into another thing, such as a physical space, a text, a system, or a device; and to implant or initiate a change or element within a context (for example, a new policy). In everyday speech it often appears in constructions like introducir a alguien or introducir un tema.

Etymology and related forms

Introducir comes from Latin introducere, formed by intro- “into” and ducere “to lead.” It is cognate with the English verb introduce. The word belongs to the -cir group of Spanish verbs, which typically preserve a characteristic present tense stem in most forms but have an irregular yo form in the present tense.

Conjugation overview and irregularities

The verb is regular in many tenses but has an irregular yo form in the present tense: present indicative is introduzco, introduces, introduce, introducimos, introducís, introducen. The preterite is regular in most forms but uses a -j- stem: introduje, introdujiste, introdujo, introdujimos, introdujisteis, introdujeron. The imperfect is introducía, introducías, introducía, introducíamos, introducíais, introducían. Present subjunctive: introduzca, introduzcas, introduzca, introduzcamos, introduzcáis, introduzcan. Imperfect subjunctive: introdujera o introdujese, introdujeras o introdujeses, introdujera o introdujese, introdujéramos o introdujésemos, introdujerais o introdujeseis, introdujeran o introdujesen. Past participle: introducido; gerund: introduciendo.

Usage notes

Common collocations include introducir a alguien (to introduce someone), introducir un tema (to introduce a topic), and introducir datos (to input data). The corresponding noun is la introducción. In many contexts, synonyms such as presentar or insertar are used, depending on the nuance.