parecer
to seem / to look like
Auxiliary: haber
Parecer means 'to seem' or 'to look like'. It is irregular in the first person present (parezco) and throughout the present subjunctive (parezca). It is often used with an indirect object: 'me parece' (it seems to me).
Parece cansado.
He seems tired.
Indicativo
Presente
Present
Con este traje parezco mayor.
In this suit I look older.
Hoy pareces muy contento.
Today you look very happy.
Me parece una buena idea.
It seems like a good idea to me.
En esta foto parecemos hermanos.
In this photo we look like brothers.
Parecéis agotados después del viaje.
You look exhausted after the trip.
Los vecinos parecen simpáticos.
The neighbours seem nice.
Pretérito indefinido
Preterite
En la entrevista parecí más seguro de lo que estaba.
In the interview I seemed more confident than I was.
Aquel día pareciste otra persona.
That day you seemed like a different person.
La película me pareció aburrida.
The film seemed boring to me.
En el escenario parecimos profesionales.
On stage we seemed like professionals.
Al principio parecisteis tímidos.
At first you seemed shy.
Sus excusas nos parecieron falsas.
Their excuses seemed false to us.
Pretérito imperfecto
Imperfect
De pequeño parecía mayor de lo que era.
As a child I looked older than I was.
Parecías preocupado por algo.
You seemed worried about something.
El cielo parecía a punto de llover.
The sky looked about to rain.
Parecíamos perdidos en aquella ciudad.
We seemed lost in that city.
Parecíais muy unidos entonces.
You seemed very close back then.
Las calles parecían desiertas.
The streets looked deserted.
Pretérito perfecto
Present Perfect
Nunca he parecido tan nervioso.
I have never seemed so nervous.
Hoy has parecido muy profesional.
Today you have seemed very professional.
La reunión me ha parecido muy larga.
The meeting has seemed very long to me.
Hemos parecido un buen equipo.
We have seemed like a good team.
Me habéis parecido muy amables.
You have seemed very kind to me.
Los cambios han parecido acertados.
The changes have seemed appropriate.
Futuro simple
Future
Con gafas pareceré más serio.
With glasses I will look more serious.
Con ese peinado parecerás más joven.
With that haircut you will look younger.
A primera vista parecerá fácil.
At first glance it will seem easy.
De uniforme pareceremos todos iguales.
In uniform we will all look the same.
Con esos trajes pareceréis actores.
In those suits you will look like actors.
Los datos parecerán confusos al principio.
The data will seem confusing at first.
Condicional
Condicional simple
Conditional
Sin dormir parecería un fantasma.
Without sleep I would look like a ghost.
Con esa sonrisa parecerías más amable.
With that smile you would seem kinder.
Sin contexto, la frase parecería absurda.
Without context, the sentence would seem absurd.
Sin ensayar pareceríamos improvisados.
Without rehearsing we would look unprepared.
Con más calma pareceríais más seguros.
With more calm you would seem more confident.
Con esas ropas parecerían turistas.
In those clothes they would look like tourists.
Subjuntivo
Presente de subjuntivo
Present Subjunctive
No quiero que parezca que me rindo.
I don't want it to seem like I'm giving up.
Sonríe para que parezcas más accesible.
Smile so that you seem more approachable.
Aunque parezca mentira, es verdad.
Although it may seem unbelievable, it's true.
Evitemos que parezcamos desorganizados.
Let's avoid seeming disorganised.
Vestíos bien para que parezcáis formales.
Dress well so you seem formal.
No dejes que parezcan intrusos.
Don't let them seem like intruders.
Pretérito imperfecto de subjuntivo
Imperfect Subjunctive
Hablé despacio para que no pareciera nervioso.
I spoke slowly so I wouldn't seem nervous.
Actuabas como si parecieras indiferente.
You acted as if you seemed indifferent.
Se maquilló para que pareciera descansada.
She put on makeup so she would seem rested.
Ensayamos para que no pareciéramos torpes.
We rehearsed so we wouldn't seem clumsy.
Os callasteis para que parecierais serios.
You kept quiet so you would seem serious.
Se vistieron igual para que parecieran un grupo.
They dressed alike so they would seem like a group.
Imperativo
Imperativo
Imperative
Parece seguro, aunque tengas dudas.
Look confident, even if you have doubts.
Parezca tranquilo ante los clientes.
Appear calm in front of the clients.
Parezcamos unidos ante los demás.
Let us appear united in front of others.
Pareced naturales delante de la cámara.
Appear natural in front of the camera.
Parezcan accesibles con el público.
Appear approachable with the public.
