To make something clear or understandable
Encoding Strategies:
linguistic
explain
to make something clear
+
-ar
verb suffix
Explicar means to explain and is a cognate of the same English word.
explicar
to explain
When you make something clear to someone by describing it or giving the reasons behind it.
¿Me explicas cómo funciona esta aplicación?Can you explain how this app works?
La médica nos explicó los resultados con mucha calmaThe doctor explained the results to us very calmly
explicarse
to explain oneself
When you give the reasons for something you did or said, you explain yourself.
Llegaste tarde otra vez, así que explícateYou're late again, so explain yourself
No tuvo la oportunidad de explicarse antes de la reuniónHe didn't get the chance to explain himself before the meeting
to make oneself understood, to express oneself
When you say something clearly enough that other people get it. You explain yourself well, so you are understood.
No sé si me explicoI don't know if I'm making myself understood
Ella se explica muy bien en inglésShe expresses herself very well in English
to understand, to figure out (how or why)
When you understand how or why something happened. If you can explain it to yourself, you understand it. Usually said when you can't.
No me explico cómo perdiste las llaves otra vezI can't understand how you lost your keys again
Todavía no se explican cómo el perro salió del jardínThey still can't figure out how the dog got out of the yard