Introduction
Learning verbs is one of the fastest ways to speak and understand Spanish. The verb entrevistar is especially useful because it appears in many situations: school projects, job searches, journalism, and everyday conversations. In English it means to interview, and it can describe both formal, professional interviews and casual conversations where someone asks questions to learn more about another person. For English-speaking learners, understanding entrevistar helps you ask questions, respond to being asked, and describe activities like job interviews or media interviews. This article explains the meaning, usage, pronunciation, and related words so you can feel confident using entrevistar in spoken and written Spanish.
Meaning and Definition
Entrevistar is a regular -ar verb meaning to interview, to question, or to conduct an interview. The basic idea is one person or a group asking questions to another person to obtain information, opinions, or facts. The verb can be reflexive in some contexts (entrevistarse) when two people interview each other, but most commonly it is used transitively: someone interviews someone else.
Common nuances include formal interviews like job interviews or press interviews, and informal ones like when a student interviews a family member for a school project. The word comes from Spanish roots related to meeting face-to-face: entre- (between) + vista/ ver (to see), so originally it implied meeting and seeing each other to exchange questions and answers.
Usage and Example Sentences
Spanish: El periódico local va a entrevistar al alcalde mañana.
English: The local newspaper is going to interview the mayor tomorrow.
Spanish: Me entrevistaron para el trabajo la semana pasada.
English: They interviewed me for the job last week.
Spanish: ¿Quieres que te entreviste para mi proyecto de clase?
English: Do you want me to interview you for my class project?
Spanish: La periodista entrevistó a varios ciudadanos sobre el tema.
English: The journalist interviewed several citizens about the topic.
Spanish: En la radio, suelen entrevistar a expertos en ciencia todos los lunes.
English: On the radio, they usually interview science experts every Monday.
Spanish: El actor estuvo nervioso durante la entrevista con el presentador.
English: The actor was nervous during the interview with the host.
Spanish: Nos entrevistaremos por videollamada si no podemos ir en persona.
English: We will interview each other by video call if we cannot go in person.
Spanish: El profesor pidió a los estudiantes que se entrevistaran entre ellos para practicar.
English: The teacher asked the students to interview each other to practice.
Synonyms, Antonyms, and Word Usage Differences
Several Spanish words are related to entrevistar, but each has different nuance and usage choices:
Entrevistar vs. preguntar: Preguntar means to ask a question. Use preguntar for isolated questions or simple requests for information. Use entrevistar when there is a formal or organized set of questions or an interview situation.
Entrevistar vs. consultar: Consultar means to consult or ask for advice or information, often from a professional. It is less about a structured question session and more about seeking guidance.
Entrevistar vs. interrogar: Interrogar means to interrogate and usually implies pressure or suspicion, often used in police contexts. Avoid usar interrogar for neutral or friendly interviews.
Antonyms: Words like evitar (to avoid) or ignorar (to ignore) represent opposite actions to seeking information. There is no single one-word antonym used frequently in interview contexts, but context will show the opposite behavior, such as no preguntar or no entrevistar.
How learners should choose: If you are describing a job, media, school, or research situation where someone asks structured questions, use entrevistar. If you mean simply to ask one or two questions, use preguntar. For formal advice-seeking, consultar is better. Never use interrogar unless you mean a strong, often accusatory or legal questioning.
Pronunciation and Accent
Pronunciation: The verb entrevistar is pronounced approximately en-treh-bis-TAR in casual English-friendly spelling. The stress falls on the last syllable -tar because it is an -ar infinitive verb and many Spanish infinitives are stressed on the last syllable.
IPA notation: /entɾeβisˈtaɾ/
Notes on sounds:
– The initial en- sounds like the English en in energy.
– The tr is pronounced with a single tap or slight roll of the r: /tɾ/.
– The v sound in Spanish between vowels is closer to a voiced bilabial fricative [β], which sounds softer than the English v. Many learners pronounce it like English v; this is acceptable in most contexts, though you may hear natives use a softer sound.
– The stress is on the last syllable tar: en-tre-vi-STÁR. No accent mark is needed because the word follows normal stress rules for infinitives.
Common pronunciation mistakes:
– Placing stress on the second syllable (entre-VI-star) instead of the last.
– Pronouncing the v like an English v too strongly or like an f. Aim for a softer sound between vowels.
– Not tapping the r or using a full English r sound. Try a single tap or a very light roll for natural pronunciation.
Native Speaker Nuance and Usage Context
Native speakers use entrevistar in both formal and informal settings, but tone and context change meaning slightly. In journalism and media, entrevistar usually refers to a planned session where a reporter asks a public figure questions. For example, a TV station will announce a program where they will entrevistar a politician or celebrity.
In business and job-search contexts, entrevistar commonly refers to hiring interviews. You will hear phrases like tener una entrevista de trabajo (to have a job interview) and entrevistar a los candidatos (to interview the candidates). In these contexts the verb is neutral and professional.
In informal or educational settings, teachers may ask students to entrevistar a familiar person for practice, meaning a short conversation to collect information. Here the word is casual and friendly.
Other nuances: When used reflexively, entrevistarse can mean to be interviewed (Me entrevisté con el director = I had an interview with the director) or to interview each other (Nos entrevistamos para la tarea = We interviewed each other for the homework). Context tells you whether the action is mutual or passive.
Colloquial uses: Native speakers sometimes use related nouns like entrevista (interview) and entrevistador/entrevistadora (interviewer). They may also talk about hacer preguntas or charlar depending on how formal the interview is. Using entrevistar conveys a slightly more organized or goal-oriented conversation than simple charla or hablar.
Conclusion
The verb entrevistar is a practical and versatile word for learners who want to describe interviews in media, work, school, or research contexts. It means to interview and is used in both formal and informal settings. Pronunciation is straightforward with stress on the last syllable and an IPA of /entɾeβisˈtaɾ/ to guide you. Remember to choose between related verbs—preguntar for single questions, consultar for seeking advice, and interrogar only for strong or accusatory questioning. Practice by creating simple interview dialogues, listening to news interviews, and role-playing job interview situations to build confidence. Mastering entrevistar opens up new opportunities to ask questions and participate in conversations in Spanish.
