representar
verbUpper-intermediate
What does “representar” mean in English?
to represent
to represent (representar a + person — act on behalf of; also: account for a percentage; also: portray)
Example sentences
El abogado representó los intereses de sus clientes ante el tribunal durante todo el proceso.
The lawyer represented his clients' interests before the court throughout the entire proceedings.
El turismo representa casi el veinte por ciento del PIB en algunas regiones costeras.
Tourism accounts for almost twenty per cent of GDP in some coastal regions.
How to use it
Representar means 'to represent'. Multiple B2 senses: (1) act on behalf of (representar a alguien ante...); (2) constitute/account for (representar el 30% de); (3) portray (represent in art). The institutional and statistical senses are most frequent in formal registers.
Common mistake
Three senses: act for someone, account for a proportion, and portray. In statistical contexts, representar el X% is a fixed B2 collocation. Don't confuse with retratar (portray artistically).
Topics
Related Upper-intermediate words
Reference
This entry’s teaching guidance follows Plan Curricular del Instituto Cervantes (Instituto Cervantes), B2 Funciones 6.65.