encontrar
Lemma Details
Translation: to find; to meet; to encounter; to come across
Part of Speech: verb
Etymology: From Latin 'incontrare', from 'in-' (in) + 'contra' (against). Related to English 'encounter' and 'counter'
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 70%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think of 'encounter' in English - they share the same root
- En-COUNTER-ar: you COUNT on finding what you're looking for
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
Very common in everyday speech. Often used in both literal and figurative contexts.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'encontrar' means 'to find/meet', 'entrar' means 'to enter'
Confused word:
Entré en la biblioteca.
I entered the library.
Notes: Both start with 'en-' but have distinct meanings and uses
Mnemonic: encontrar has 'con' (with) - you find something to be WITH; entrar is like ENTERing