Introduction
The verb consideran is an important form that Spanish learners will encounter often. It is the third person plural present indicative of considerar, which means to think about, to take into account, or to regard. Understanding consideran helps learners follow conversations, read news stories, and understand opinions expressed by groups of people. In this article you will learn the basic meaning, see clear example sentences, learn related words, and get tips on pronunciation and nuance. The explanations are simple and aimed at English-speaking learners, including middle school students, so you can start using consideran confidently in everyday Spanish.
Meaning and Definition
consideran comes from the verb considerar. At its core it means to think about something or someone, to take something into account, or to regard someone in a certain way. Because it is in the third person plural present tense, consideran is used when the subject is they or you all (ustedes). For example, they consider the idea or you all consider the plan. The nuance often involves weighing options, judging, or valuing something. Etymologically, considerar comes from Latin considerare, which meant to examine or look closely, and that sense of thinking carefully still appears in modern Spanish usage.
Usage and Example Sentences
Spanish: Ellos consideran que la propuesta es justa.
English: They consider that the proposal is fair.
Spanish: Mis amigos consideran importante estudiar todos los días.
English: My friends consider it important to study every day.
Spanish: ¿Ustedes consideran el arte como una profesión?
English: Do you all consider art a profession?
Spanish: Los profesores consideran a María una estudiante responsable.
English: The teachers consider María a responsible student.
Spanish: Muchas personas consideran cambiar de trabajo este año.
English: Many people are considering changing jobs this year.
Spanish: Los científicos consideran varias hipótesis antes de decidir.
English: Scientists consider several hypotheses before deciding.
Spanish: En la reunión consideraron todas las opiniones del equipo.
English: In the meeting they took all the team’s opinions into account.
Spanish: Los padres consideran la seguridad como la prioridad número uno.
English: Parents consider safety as the number one priority.
Synonyms, Antonyms, and Word Usage Differences
Several Spanish words have meanings similar to consideran, but learners should note subtle differences. Synonyms include piensan (they think), creen (they believe), and toman en cuenta (they take into account). Piensan often expresses an opinion or thought without heavy evaluation, while creen expresses belief or conviction. Tomar en cuenta is more literal and emphasizes taking information into account when making decisions. Use consideran when you want to show a thoughtful judgment or evaluation.
Antonyms would be verbs that express ignoring or dismissing, such as ignoran (they ignore) or desestiman (they dismiss). Ignoran implies lack of attention, while desestiman suggests rejecting as unimportant or invalid. Choose consideran when someone is giving attention or value; choose ignoran or desestiman when attention or value is absent.
Another related verb is evaluar (to evaluate). Evaluar is more formal and often used in academic, professional, or technical contexts where a systematic assessment is made. Considerar is more general and common in everyday speech. For formal writing, evaluar might sound stronger; for casual conversation, consideran is usually fine.
Pronunciation and Accent
Pronounce consideran like this in English-friendly syllables: kohn-see-DEH-rahn. The stress is on the third syllable, de. In International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) notation, a typical pronunciation is /konsiˈdeɾan/ in many dialects of Spanish. The r in the syllable -der- is a single tapped r, similar to the American English t in better when said quickly, not a trilled r.
There is no written accent mark in consideran. Spanish uses accent marks to show stress or to distinguish words, but this verb form follows regular stress rules: when a word ends in n, s, or a vowel, stress falls on the second-to-last syllable. Because the stress naturally falls on de, no accent mark is needed. Common pronunciation mistakes include overtrilling the r or placing stress on the wrong syllable, as in saying KON-see-deh-ran or konsi-de-RAN. Practice saying kohn-see-DEH-rahn slowly and then at normal speech speed to build accuracy.
Native Speaker Nuance and Usage Context
Native speakers use consideran in many everyday contexts. It appears in news reports when summarizing a group’s opinion, in school when teachers talk about students, and in family conversations when people discuss plans. For example, a journalist might write Los expertos consideran que… to introduce a consensus or an expert view. In conversations among friends, you might hear Mis padres consideran que es mejor esperar meaning my parents think it is better to wait.
The word fits both formal and informal contexts: it is polite and neutral. Use consideran when you want to sound measured or thoughtful. In very informal speech, people might prefer piensan or creen, but consideran is still natural and common. When addressing a group formally (ustedes), you will also hear consideran used to report their views: Ustedes consideran esto importante, verdad? In written Spanish, especially journalism, academic writing, and official reports, consideran gives a tone of reasoned judgment.
Conclusion
Learning consideran gives you a useful tool for expressing opinions and judgments made by groups or by you addressing several people. It is the third person plural present form of considerar and means they or you all consider, think about, or take into account. You saw clear examples, synonyms like piensan and toman en cuenta, and antonyms like ignoran. Pronunciation is straightforward with stress on the de syllable and IPA /konsiˈdeɾan/. Because consideran suits both formal and informal contexts and appears often in media and conversation, practicing it will help you understand and participate in many everyday Spanish situations. Keep using the example sentences and try replacements with different subjects to become more comfortable with this verb form.
