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Ask, explain, practise, remember, know — the verbs of learning.

24 concepts

Columns follow the languages switched on at the top. Gender after the word (m/f/n); IPA beneath; notes, alternatives and origins underneath — nothing is hidden.

Concept	English	Français	Español
to ask (a question) verb	to ask Ask a question, ask FOR something. RP /ɑːsk/, US /æsk/.	demander also: poser une question False friend: demander = ASK, not demand (exiger). Demander covers asking a question and asking for something.	preguntar also: pedir (ask for) Preguntar asks a question; pedir asks FOR something (pedir un café). Mixing them is the classic slip.
to calculate / do sums verb	to calculate also: to work out, to do sums In class: do sums (UK), do the math (US). Work it out = the spoken version.	calculer also: faire des calculs Calcul mental = mental arithmetic.	calcular also: hacer cuentas Also 'to reckon, estimate': calculo que llegará a las ocho.
to check verb	to check also: to double-check Check = verify. 'Control' in English means steer or command — not check, though the neighbours use it that way.	vérifier also: contrôler Contrôler = check (tickets, papers) — the false friend behind English 'control'.	comprobar also: revisar, checar (Mexico), chequear Spain comprobar; Latin America revisar, and Mexico checar.
to copy verb	to copy also: to copy out (by hand) In class, copying someone's answers = cheating.	copier also: recopier (write out again) Also 'to cheat' by copying: copier sur son voisin.	copiar Also cheating in an exam: copiar en el examen.
to count verb	to count Count to ten. Also 'to matter': that doesn't count.	compter The p is silent. Same Latin root as conter (tell a story) — English account / recount keep both.	contar Count AND tell (a story) in one verb: cuéntame = tell me.
to draw verb	to draw Irregular: drew, drawn. Also a tie in sport (it was a draw) and draw the curtains.	dessiner Le dessin = drawing; le dessein (with an e) = intention. Tirer is to draw a card or a gun.	dibujar El dibujo = drawing; dibujos animados = cartoons.
to experiment verb	to experiment also: to do experiments Verb /-mɛnt/, noun /-mənt/. Experience ≠ experiment in English.	expérimenter also: faire des expériences Une expérience is BOTH an experience and a lab experiment — English splits them.	experimentar also: hacer experimentos Also 'to experience, to feel': experimentar un cambio.
to explain verb	to explain Explain it TO me — never 'explain me'. French, Spanish, German and Italian speakers all make that slip.	expliquer Expliquer quelque chose à quelqu'un; the person is indirect: explique-moi.	explicar Often /espliˈkaɾ/ in Spain. Explícame = explain to me.
to observe verb	to observe also: to watch closely The s is /z/. Also 'to remark' and to keep (a rule, a holiday).	observer The b devoices to /p/ before s.	observar Also 'to remark, point out'.
to practise verb	to practise UK: practise (verb), practice (noun). US: practice for both. Practise your jab.	pratiquer also: s'entraîner à (drill), réviser Pratiquer is doing a sport or using a language (pratiquer l'anglais); drilling a move is s'entraîner à.	practicar Practise AND do a sport: practico boxeo = I box.
to review / revise (for a test) verb	to review also: to revise (UK, for exams), to go over UK students revise for exams; US students review. In the US, revise means only to edit.	réviser Réviser = study for an exam; also service a car (faire réviser la voiture).	repasar 'Pass over again'. Revisar means to check, not to study.
to spell (out) verb	to spell How do you spell it? — needed often in English because spelling and sound drift apart.	épeler J'épelle: double l when stressed. Orthographe = spelling.	deletrear Rarely needed: Spanish spelling follows the sound. Letra = letter.
to study verb	to study Study (for a test, a subject); 'learn' is the result.	étudier also: bosser (familiar), travailler Also 'to be a student' (j'étudie à Lyon).	estudiar Also 'to be a student': ¿estudias o trabajas?
to teach verb	to teach Irregular: taught /tɔːt/. Teach someone something; never 'learn someone'.	enseigner also: apprendre à In speech apprendre does the job: il m'a appris à nager. Enseigner is the profession.	enseñar Also 'to show': enséñame la foto. Never aprender, which is only learning.
to show verb	to show Past participle shown. Show someone something; show it to them.	montrer Montrer = show; une montre = a watch (the thing that shows the time).	mostrar also: enseñar (Spain, everyday) In Spain enseñar is the everyday 'show': enséñame.
to think (it over) verb	to think Irregular: thought /θɔːt/. Think ABOUT something; think it over = take time.	réfléchir also: penser Réfléchir is thinking something over (laisse-moi réfléchir); penser is having a thought or opinion. Penser à = think about; penser de = think of (an opinion).	pensar also: reflexionar, pensarlo Pensar en = think about; pensar de = opinion. Déjame pensarlo = let me think about it.
to know (a thing, a place, a person) verb	to know One verb for facts and for people or places — its neighbours split it in two.	connaître also: savoir (facts, how to) Connaître = be familiar with (a person, a place, a film); savoir = know a fact or how to: je sais nager, je sais qu'il vient.	conocer also: saber (facts, how to) Conocer a person, place or thing; saber a fact or a skill. Conocer a alguien also means to meet them for the first time.
to try verb	to try also: to have a go Try to do = attempt; try doing = experiment. Try on = clothes.	essayer Also try on clothes and try food. Essayer de + infinitive.	intentar also: probar (taste, try on), tratar de Intentar = attempt; probar = try food or clothes.
to start / begin verb	to start also: to begin Start is everyday; begin a little more formal. Only start works for machines: start the car.	commencer also: démarrer (machines) Cedilla before a/o: nous commençons. Démarrer for a car or a computer.	empezar also: comenzar, arrancar (machines) Empezar a + infinitive: empiezo a entender.
to finish verb	to finish also: to end, to be done Finish WHAT (finish the work); end is what stops by itself (the film ends).	finir also: terminer The model -ir verb: nous finissons. J'ai fini = I'm done.	terminar also: acabar Acabar de + infinitive = to have just done: acabo de llegar. In the River Plate acabar also has a sexual sense — terminar is safer there.
to choose verb	to choose also: to pick Irregular: chose /t͡ʃəʊz/, chosen. Pick is the spoken one.	choisir Le choix = the choice.	elegir also: escoger Also 'to elect'. Escoger is picking from a set.
to search / look for verb	to search also: to look for, to look Look FOR something; search a place (search the room) or search for a thing.	chercher No 'for': je cherche mes clés. Aller chercher = go and get / pick up.	buscar No 'for': busco mis llaves. Buscar a alguien = look for, or pick someone up.
to listen verb	to listen The t is silent. Listen TO something.	écouter No 'to': écouter la musique. Hear is entendre.	escuchar No 'to': escuchar música. In Latin America it also covers 'hear'.
to remember verb	to remember Remember to do (don't forget); remember doing (a memory). Remind = make someone remember.	se rappeler also: se souvenir de Se rappeler takes the thing directly (je me rappelle ce jour); se souvenir needs de (je me souviens de ce jour). 'Se rappeler de' is common but frowned on.	recordar also: acordarse de (reflexive, everyday) Recordar takes the thing directly; the everyday spoken form is acordarse de: ¿te acuerdas de mí? Recordar a alguien also = remind.