Spanish often uses “averiguar” or “descubrir” for finding an answer, and “resolver” for fixing a problem.
“Figure out” looks simple in English, yet it covers a bunch of ideas: finding information, solving a puzzle, understanding a person, noticing something, or fixing a mess. Spanish doesn’t lean on one catch-all verb the same way.
This guide gives you go-to options, when each one fits, and ready-to-use lines you can drop into class, travel, work, and daily chat. You’ll also get quick conjugation cues so you can move from “I’ll figure it out” to “We figured it out” without stalling mid-sentence.
How to Say ‘Figure Out’ in Spanish For Real Situations
When English says “figure out,” ask one fast question: are you trying to find out information, solve something, or realize something? That choice usually points to the right Spanish verb.
Averiguar For Finding Out Information
Averiguar is a solid pick when you mean “find out,” “learn,” or “get the details.” It’s used for facts you don’t know yet: a time, a price, a reason, a name, a rule.
- Voy a averiguar la hora del examen. (I’m going to find out the exam time.)
- ¿Puedes averiguar por qué no funciona? (Can you find out why it doesn’t work?)
Pair it with question words like qué, quién, cuándo, dónde, por qué.
Descubrir For Discovering A Fact Or Secret
Descubrir leans toward “discover.” Use it when the answer feels like a reveal: a hidden detail, a surprise, a secret, a truth you didn’t see coming.
- Descubrí que la clase empieza a las ocho. (I found out the class starts at eight.)
- Ella descubrió mi error. (She found out about my mistake.)
In many cases, averiguar and descubrir both work. Descubrir just adds that “aha, it was hidden” vibe.
Resolver For Solving A Problem Or Puzzle
Resolver is for solving. Use it for problems, mysteries, math items, logic puzzles, and practical troubles.
- Voy a resolver este ejercicio. (I’m going to solve this exercise.)
- Resolvimos el problema del Wi-Fi. (We solved the Wi-Fi problem.)
If you’re figuring out a plan to fix something, resolver is often the match.
Descifrar For Cracking Something Hard To Read
Descifrar is “decipher,” and it’s great for codes, messy handwriting, a blurry note, or a pattern you’re trying to crack.
- No puedo descifrar esta letra. (I can’t figure out this handwriting.)
- Por fin desciframos el mensaje. (We finally figured out the message.)
Darse Cuenta De For Realizing Or Noticing
Darse cuenta de means “realize” or “notice.” Use it when “figure out” is about a shift in awareness.
- Me di cuenta de que estaba equivocado. (I realized I was wrong.)
- ¿Te diste cuenta de la fecha? (Did you notice the date?)
It’s reflexive, so you’ll use forms like me di cuenta, se dio cuenta, nos dimos cuenta.
Entender For Understanding How Something Works
Entender fits when “figure out” means “understand.” It works for ideas, instructions, people, jokes, or a lesson that finally clicks.
- No entiendo cómo se usa este programa. (I can’t figure out how to use this program.)
- Ahora entiendo el tema. (Now I get the topic.)
You can also use comprender, which can sound a touch more formal, but entender is the daily pick.
Pick The Meaning First, Then Build The Sentence
If you translate “figure out” word for word, you’ll end up with a line that sounds stiff. A quick three-step habit fixes that.
Step 1: Name The Goal
Ask: am I trying to get information, fix a problem, or notice something? That tells you whether to reach for averiguar, resolver, or darse cuenta de.
Step 2: Choose The Grammar Pattern
Spanish uses a few repeatable patterns. Learn them once and you can build a lot of sentences.
- Verb + question word: averiguar + qué / quién / cuándo / dónde / por qué
- Verb + “que” clause: descubrir que…, darse cuenta de que…
- Verb + noun: resolver un problema, descifrar un código
- Verb + infinitive: entender cómo hacer…, averiguar cómo llegar…
Step 3: Match The Time
English uses “figure it out” for now, later, and past. Spanish wants the tense clear. You’ll see quick tense cues later in the conjugation table.
One more trick: if “it” is a thing already said, Spanish often drops the pronoun. You can still use lo when you want it stated.
- Lo voy a averiguar. (I’ll find it out.)
- Ya lo resolví. (I already solved it.)
Common Phrases People Actually Say
These are lines you’ll hear in classrooms, chats, and day-to-day tasks. Swap the verb based on your meaning, and you’ll sound steady.
I’ll Figure It Out
- Ya lo averiguo. (I’ll find out.)
- Ya lo resuelvo. (I’ll fix it / solve it.)
- Ya lo entiendo. (I’ll get it.)
Ya here works like “I’ve got it” or “I’m on it.” Tone does the heavy lifting.
We Need To Figure Out
- Tenemos que averiguar la razón. (We need to find out the reason.)
- Tenemos que resolver esto hoy. (We need to solve this today.)
Did You Figure Out…?
- ¿Averiguaste dónde es? (Did you find out where it is?)
- ¿Ya resolviste el problema? (Did you solve the problem yet?)
- ¿Te diste cuenta de lo que pasó? (Did you realize what happened?)
Let Me Figure It Out First
- Déjame averiguarlo primero. (Let me find out first.)
- Déjame resolverlo primero. (Let me solve it first.)
Quick Match Table For “Figure Out” Meanings
Use this table as a fast chooser when you’re writing, speaking, or translating homework lines.
| What You Mean In English | Spanish Verb Or Phrase | When It Fits |
|---|---|---|
| Find out a fact | averiguar | Times, prices, reasons, names, rules |
| Discover a hidden truth | descubrir | Secrets, surprises, info that was concealed |
| Solve a problem | resolver | Issues, puzzles, tasks, fixes |
| Crack a code or handwriting | descifrar | Codes, messy notes, patterns, signals |
| Realize something | darse cuenta de | Noticing, awareness, sudden understanding |
| Understand an idea | entender | Lessons, instructions, how something works |
| Work out a plan | resolver / averiguar | Fixing the issue or getting missing info first |
| Figure someone out | entender / conocer bien | Getting a person’s motives or style |
| Figure out what to say | pensar qué decir | Choosing words, planning a reply |
| Figure out the answer | averiguar / resolver | Tests, riddles, questions with a solution |
Regional Notes And Tone Choices
Spanish shifts by region, yet these verbs travel well. A couple of extras can help when you’re listening to shows or chatting with friends from Spain.
Pillar In Spain
In Spain, you might hear pillar used like “get” or “catch on.” It’s casual.
- No lo pillo. (I don’t get it.)
- ¿Lo pillas? (Do you get it?)
“Figure Someone Out” Needs A Different Angle
When English means understanding a person, Spanish often uses entender plus context, or a phrase like conocer bien (to know well).
- No lo entiendo. Es impredecible. (I can’t figure him out. He’s unpredictable.)
- Con el tiempo la conoces bien. (Over time you get to know her well.)
Make Your Sentences Sound Natural
These small moves help you avoid English-shaped Spanish and keep your phrasing clean.
Use “Cómo” With Infinitives
When “figure out” is followed by “how to…,” Spanish often keeps the “how” and uses an infinitive.
- Tengo que averiguar cómo llegar. (I need to figure out how to get there.)
- Necesito entender cómo funciona. (I need to figure out how it works.)
Use “Que” For A Full Clause
When the answer is a full idea, use que.
- Descubrimos que había un error. (We found out there was an error.)
- Me di cuenta de que era tarde. (I realized it was late.)
Drop “It” When Spanish Doesn’t Want It
English repeats “it” a lot. Spanish often doesn’t. If the context is clear, skip it.
- Ya averigüé. (I already found out.)
- Ya resolvimos. (We already solved it.)
If you need the object stated, lo is fine and common in speech.
Conjugation Table For Fast Replies
If you freeze on verb forms, use this as a quick anchor for “I” statements. Build the rest of the sentence around the verb and keep talking.
| Verb | Present (Yo) | Preterite (Yo) |
|---|---|---|
| averiguar | averiguo | averigüé |
| descubrir | descubro | descubrí |
| resolver | resuelvo | resolví |
| descifrar | descifro | descifré |
| darse cuenta de | me doy cuenta de | me di cuenta de |
| entender | entiendo | entendí |
| pillar (España) | lo pillo | lo pillé |
Mini Drills To Lock In The Right Choice
Say the English line, pick the meaning, then say the Spanish line out loud. It trains you to choose the verb first, not last.
Drill 1: Find Out Vs Solve
- “I’ll figure out the address.” → Voy a averiguar la dirección.
- “I’ll figure out the error.” → Voy a resolver el error.
Drill 2: Realize
- “I figured out I was wrong.” → Me di cuenta de que estaba equivocado.
- “They figured out it was late.” → Se dieron cuenta de que era tarde.
Common Mistakes And Clean Fixes
These are slips learners make when they try to force one verb into each case. Fixing them makes your Spanish sound smoother.
Using “Resolver” For Simple Facts
If you mean “find out the time” or “learn the price,” resolver can sound odd. Use averiguar.
Overusing “Descubrir” For Routine Info
Descubrir works, but it can sound dramatic for routine stuff like office hours. Save it for moments that feel like a reveal.
Mixing Up “Darse Cuenta” With “Entender”
Darse cuenta de is noticing or realizing. Entender is understanding. They can overlap, yet they don’t point to the same idea.
Ready-to-Use Lines For Study And Daily Life
Use these as templates. Swap the noun or clause, keep the verb, and you’re set.
- Voy a averiguar si hay tarea. (I’ll find out if there’s homework.)
- Tenemos que averiguar quién falta. (We need to find out who is missing.)
- Estoy tratando de resolver este problema. (I’m trying to solve this problem.)
- ¿Puedes descifrar esta nota? (Can you figure out this note?)
- Ya entiendo la regla. (I get the rule now.)
If you want one safe default, use averiguar for “find out” and resolver for “solve.” When the sentence is about a sudden realization, switch to darse cuenta de. That habit covers conversations.