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verbsCard 58 of 100

aprender vs enseñar

Learn vs teach — and enseñar also means 'show'. Mixing them up is one of the few errors that flips who's doing what.

aprender

To learn, to pick up a skill or knowledge.

  • Aprendí inglés en Londres.

    I learned English in London.

    Acquiring a language or subject.

  • Aprendí a nadar de niño.

    I learned to swim as a child.

    Aprender a + infinitive = to learn how to.

  • Aprende muy rápido.

    He learns very fast.

    General ability.

enseñar

To teach — and to show something to someone.

  • Enseña matemáticas en un instituto.

    She teaches maths at a secondary school.

    Teaching a subject. 'Dar clase' is a common alternative.

  • Me enseñó a conducir.

    He taught me to drive.

    Enseñar a + person + a + infinitive.

  • Enséñame la foto.

    Show me the photo.

    Enseñar also means show, even without any teaching going on. Mostrar is more formal.

Tricky bit

'Me enseñó español' = he taught me Spanish. 'Aprendí español con él' = I learned Spanish with him. The subject changes depending on the verb, so mixing them swaps teacher and student.