retratar
verbCEFR B2
What does “retratar” mean in English?
to portray, to depict
to portray, to depict (retratar a alguien/algo — artistic or literary representation)
Example sentences
La novela retrata la vida cotidiana de una familia trabajadora durante la posguerra española.
The novel portrays the everyday life of a working-class family during the Spanish post-war period.
El documentalista retrató a los protagonistas como víctimas de un sistema injusto.
The documentary maker portrayed the protagonists as victims of an unjust system.
How to use it
Retratar means 'to portray' or 'to depict'. Used in literary, film, and journalism contexts. Structure: retratar a alguien/algo (portray someone/something); retratar + noun + como + noun/adjective. More specific to artistic representation than describir (describe — neutral, non-artistic).
Common mistake
Retratar (artistic/literary portrayal) vs. describir (describe — neutral information). Use retratar when there is a creative or interpretive dimension; describir for neutral factual accounts.