mostrar

Mostrar is a Spanish verb meaning to show, display, reveal, or demonstrate. It is transitive and typically requires a direct object, as in mostrar un documento or mostrar interés. The verb can also be used reflexively in the form mostrarse, meaning to present oneself in a certain way or to appear.

Etymology and usage

Mostrar derives from Latin monstrare, “to point out, to show,” related to the root monstr- found in demonstrative terms such as demostrar. In Spanish, mostrar is used for literal showing (un objeto, una foto) and for figurative purposes (mostrar interés, mostrar pruebas, mostrar evidencia). It is common in phrases that introduce evidence, examples, or explanations. The distinction between mostrar and enseñar is subtle: enseñar often emphasizes instruction or guiding someone to understand, while mostrar focuses more on presenting an object or fact.

Conjugation overview

Mostrar is an -ar verb with stem changes in some tenses. Present indicative forms are: yo muestro, tú muestras, él/ella/Ud. muestra, nosotros mostramos, vosotros mostráis, ellos/ellas/Uds. muestran. The preterite is: mostré, mostraste, mostró, mostramos, mostrasteis, mostraron. Imperfect: mostraba, mostrabas, mostraba, mostrábamos, mostrabais, mostraban. Present subjunctive: muestre, muestres, muestre, mostremos, mostréis, muestren. Imperative (affirmative): muestra, muestre, mostremos, mostrad, muestren; negative forms follow the same person changes (no muestres, no muestre, etc.). The reflexive form mostrarse is used to mean “to show oneself” or “to appear,” as in se mostró cansado.

See also

Related verbs include enseñar, demostrar, and presentar. The core meaning centers on presenting or making visible something to another person.