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importar means to matter — a common term in Essential Spanish. Learn how it's used in a real-world example.

📅 Published: November 4, 2025

📘 Essential Spanish

importar

verb • /[eem-por-TAR]/

to matter

Example:

No me importa si llegas tarde.

I don’t mind if you arrive late.

🧠 What does importar mean?

The verb 'importar' primarily means 'to matter' or 'to be important'. It is often used in a structure similar to the verb 'gustar', where the thing that matters is the subject of the sentence, and the person to whom it matters is an indirect object. It can also mean 'to mind', as in asking for permission. A secondary, more literal meaning is 'to import', as in bringing goods into a country.

📚 Extra examples

  • No me importa lo que piensen los demás.
    I don't care what other people think.
  • ¿Te importa si abro la ventana?
    Do you mind if I open the window?
  • A ella le importan mucho sus estudios.
    Her studies matter a lot to her.
  • Lo único que importa es que estés bien.
    The only thing that matters is that you are okay.
  • La empresa importa materias primas de China.
    The company imports raw materials from China.

💡 Did You Know?

Like 'gustar', the verb 'importar' belongs to a group of verbs where the grammatical subject is the thing that causes the feeling, and the person experiencing that feeling is the indirect object. This construction can feel inverted to English speakers. In 'Me importa la verdad', the literal translation is 'The truth matters to me', with 'la verdad' as the subject.

🔁 Synonyms & opposites of "importar"

Synonyms: interesar, ser importante, preocupar, tener importancia
Opposites: dar igual, ser indiferente, no tener importancia

🔍 See more essential spanish words

❓ FAQ

How do you say 'to matter' in Spanish?
The most common way to say 'to matter' in Spanish is with the verb 'importar'. Another option is the phrase 'tener importancia'.
How do you pronounce 'importar' in Spanish?
The pronunciation is /im.poɾˈt̪aɾ/. The stress falls on the final syllable, '-tar'.
How do you use 'importar' in a sentence?
It is frequently used with indirect object pronouns (me, te, le, nos, os, les) to indicate who is affected. For example, 'Le importa la puntualidad' means 'Punctuality matters to him/her'.
What is the English translation of 'importar'?
The main English translation is 'to matter' or 'to be important'. It also translates as 'to mind' or 'to care about'. In a commercial context, it means 'to import'.
Does 'importar' change for gender or number?
The verb itself does not change for gender. It is conjugated in the third person singular ('importa') for a singular subject and third person plural ('importan') for a plural subject. For example: 'Me importa la película' (singular) vs. 'Me importan las películas' (plural).
Is 'importar' common in everyday Spanish?
Yes, 'importar' is extremely common in daily conversation, especially in the expressions 'no me importa' (I don't care/It doesn't matter to me) and '¿te importa si...?' (do you mind if...?).
Does 'importar' have slang or double meanings?
Beyond its primary meanings ('to matter' and 'to import'), it is used in many idiomatic expressions to show a lack of concern, such as 'me importa un bledo' or 'me importa un pimiento', which are informal ways of saying 'I couldn't care less'.
Is 'importar' used differently in Spain vs Latin America?
The standard use of 'importar' is consistent across the Spanish-speaking world. The informal or slang expressions used to emphasize a lack of caring can vary by region, but the core meaning does not change.
How do you conjugate 'importar' in Spanish?
'Importar' is a regular -ar verb. The present tense conjugations are: (yo) importo, (tú) importas, (él/ella/usted) importa, (nosotros) importamos, (vosotros) importáis, (ellos/ellas/ustedes) importan. However, it is most frequently used in the third person (importa, importan).

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