interpretar
verbCEFR B2
What does “interpretar” mean in English?
to interpret, to read as
to interpret, to read as (interpretar como — understand or explain the meaning or significance of something)
Example sentences
Los expertos interpretan este aumento de las exportaciones como una señal de recuperación económica sostenida.
Experts interpret this increase in exports as a sign of sustained economic recovery.
La actriz interpretó el papel de la protagonista con una intensidad que dejó al público sin palabras.
The actress played the lead role with an intensity that left the audience speechless.
El texto es ambiguo y puede interpretarse de distintas maneras según el contexto en que se lea.
The text is ambiguous and can be interpreted in different ways depending on the context in which it is read.
How to use it
Interpretar means 'to interpret' in three senses at B2: (1) analyse/understand meaning: interpretar los datos (interpret data); (2) perform: interpretar un papel (play a role), interpretar una pieza musical (perform a piece); (3) translate orally (menos común at B2). The most productive B2 uses are senses 1 and 2. Structure: interpretar algo como (interpret something as): 'lo interpreté como una crítica' (I interpreted it as a criticism). Don't confuse with traducir (translate — written text) or analizar (analyse — more neutral, systematic).
Common mistake
Interpretar (interpret — assign meaning or perform) vs. traducir (translate — convert between languages). An interpreter at a conference interpreta (oral real-time interpretation); a translator traduce (written or oral translation with time to prepare). These are distinct professional activities in Spanish.