aclarar

Aclarar is a Spanish verb with several related senses centered on making something clearer or more understandable. The primary use is to explain or remove doubt by providing information or clarification. For example, one can aclarar una duda, aclarar una afirmación, or aclarar un procedimiento. Atransitive use exists as well, meaning to shed light on a matter or to resolve a confusion.

A second sense is to lighten or bleach color, especially in reference to hair, textiles, or surfaces. In this usage, aclarar denotes the action of making something less dark or intense in color, such as aclarar el cabello or aclarar una prenda.

A third sense occurs in reference to weather or visibility, where the term describes the sky or atmosphere becoming clearer or brighter. For instance, el cielo se aclaró después de la tormenta.

Usage and construction: aclarar is a regular -ar verb and follows standard conjugation patterns. Examples in the present tense include: yo aclaro, tú aclaras, él aclara, nosotros aclaramos, vosotros aclaráis, ellos aclaran. Its past tenses are regular as well: aclaré, aclaraste, aclaró, aclaramos, aclarasteis, aclararon (preterite); aclaraba, aclarabas, aclaraba, aclarábamos, aclarabais, aclaraban (imperfect). Intransitively, it can appear as se aclaró to mean “it cleared up.”

Common collocations include aclarar una duda, aclarar una pregunta, aclarar una instrucción, and aclarar el origen de un hecho. Cuidado con matices: aclarar se centra en hacer comprensible o visible, mientras que palabras como explicar, demostrar o justificar pueden aportar distintas dimensiones a la aclaración.

Etymology: de claro, con prefijo a- indicando acción hacia la claridad.