improvisar

Catalan

Etymology

From improvís +‎ -ar, from Latin improvisus (“unforeseen”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Northern, Central) [im.pɾu.βiˈza]
• IPA^(key): (Balearic) [im.pɾo.viˈza]
• IPA^(key): (Valencia) [im.pɾo.viˈzaɾ]
• IPA^(key): (Northwestern) [im.pɾo.βiˈza]

• Audio (Barcelona):

  (file)

Verb

improvisar (first-person singular present improviso, first-person singular preterite improvisí, past participle improvisat)

1. to improvise

Conjugation

    Central Catalan conjugation of improvisar (first conjugation)

infinitive			improvisar
gerund			improvisant
past participle				masculine		feminine
		singular		improvisat		improvisada
		plural		improvisats		improvisades
person		singular			plural
		first	second	third	first	second	third
indicative		jo	tu	ell/ella vostè	nosaltres nós	vosaltres vós	ells/elles vostès
	present	improviso	improvises	improvisa	improvisem	improviseu	improvisen
	imperfect	improvisava	improvisaves	improvisava	improvisàvem	improvisàveu	improvisaven
	future	improvisaré	improvisaràs	improvisarà	improvisarem	improvisareu	improvisaran
	preterite	improvisí	improvisares	improvisà	improvisàrem	improvisàreu	improvisaren
	conditional	improvisaria	improvisaries	improvisaria	improvisaríem	improvisaríeu	improvisarien
subjunctive		jo	tu	ell/ella vostè	nosaltres nós	vosaltres vós	ells/elles vostès
	present	improvisi	improvisis	improvisi	improvisem	improviseu	improvisin
	imperfect	improvisés	improvisessis	improvisés	improviséssim	improviséssiu	improvisessin
imperative		—	tu	vostè	nosaltres	vosaltres vós	vostès
	affirmative	—	improvisa	improvisi	improvisem	improviseu	improvisin
	negative (no)	—	no improvisis	no improvisi	no improvisem	no improviseu	no improvisin

Derived terms

• improvisació

Further reading

• “improvisar”, in Diccionari de la llengua catalana [Dictionary of the Catalan Language] (in Catalan), second edition, Institute of Catalan Studies [Catalan: Institut d'Estudis Catalans], April 2007
• “improvisar”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2026
• “improvisar” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
• Alcover, Antoni Maria; Moll, Francesc de Borja (1963), “improvisar”, in Diccionari català-valencià-balear (in Catalan)

Galician

Etymology

From improviso +‎ -ar, from Latin improvisus (“unforeseen”).

Verb

improvisar (first-person singular present improviso, first-person singular preterite improvisei, past participle improvisado)

1. to improvise

Conjugation

    Conjugation of improvisar

	Singular			Plural
	First-person (eu)	Second-person (ti)	Third-person (el / ela / Vde.)	First-person (nós)	Second-person (vós)	Third-person (eles / elas / Vdes.)
Infinitive
Impersonal	improvisar
Personal	improvisar	improvisares	improvisar	improvisarmos	improvisardes	improvisaren
Gerund
	improvisando
Past participle
Masculine	improvisado			improvisados
Feminine	improvisada			improvisadas
Indicative
Present	improviso	improvisas	improvisa	improvisamos	improvisades	improvisan
Imperfect	improvisaba	improvisabas	improvisaba	improvisabamos	improvisabades	improvisaban
Preterite	improvisei	improvisaches	improvisou	improvisamos	improvisastes	improvisaron
Pluperfect	improvisara	improvisaras	improvisara	improvisaramos	improvisarades	improvisaran
Future	improvisarei	improvisarás	improvisará	improvisaremos	improvisaredes	improvisarán
Conditional	improvisaría	improvisarías	improvisaría	improvisariamos	improvisariades	improvisarían
Subjunctive
Present	improvise	improvises	improvise	improvisemos	improvisedes	improvisen
Imperfect	improvisase	improvisases	improvisase	improvisásemos	improvisásedes	improvisasen
Future	improvisar	improvisares	improvisar	improvisarmos	improvisardes	improvisaren
Imperative
Affirmative		improvisa	improvise	improvisemos	improvisade	improvisen
Negative (non)		non improvises	non improvise	non improvisemos	non improvisedes	non improvisen

    Reintegrated conjugation of improvisar (See Appendix:Reintegrationism)

	Singular			Plural
	First-person (eu)	Second-person (ti / tu)	Third-person (ele / ela / você)	First-person (nós)	Second-person (vós)	Third-person (eles / elas / vocês)
Infinitive
Impersonal	improvisar
Personal	improvisar	improvisares	improvisar	improvisarmos	improvisardes	improvisarem
Gerund
	improvisando
Past participle
Masculine	improvisado			improvisados
Feminine	improvisada			improvisadas
Indicative
Present	improviso	improvisas	improvisa	improvisamos	improvisades, improvisais	improvisam
Imperfect	improvisava	improvisavas	improvisava	improvisávamos	improvisávades, improvisáveis, improvisávais1	improvisavam
Preterite	improvisei	improvisaste, improvisache1	improvisou	improvisamos	improvisastes	improvisárom, improvisaram
Pluperfect	improvisara	improvisaras	improvisara	improvisáramos	improvisárades, improvisáreis, improvisárais1	improvisaram
Future	improvisarei	improvisarás	improvisará	improvisaremos	improvisaredes, improvisareis	improvisarám, improvisarão
Conditional	improvisaria	improvisarias	improvisaria	improvisaríamos	improvisaríades, improvisaríeis, improvisaríais1	improvisariam
Subjunctive
Present	improvise	improvises	improvise	improvisemos	improvisedes, improviseis	improvisem
Imperfect	improvisasse	improvisasses	improvisasse	improvisássemos	improvisássedes, improvisásseis	improvisassem
Future	improvisar	improvisares	improvisar	improvisarmos	improvisardes	improvisarem
Imperative
Affirmative		improvisa	improvise	improvisemos	improvisade, improvisai	improvisem
Negative (nom)		nom improvises	nom improvise	nom improvisemos	nom improvisedes, nom improviseis	nom improvisem

¹Less recommended.

Derived terms

• improvisación

Further reading

• “improvisar”, in Dicionario da Real Academia Galega (in Galician), A Coruña: Royal Galician Academy, 2012–2026
• “improvisar”, in Dicionário Estraviz de galego (in Galician), 2014–2026

Portuguese

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *né

Proto-Indo-European *n̥-

Proto-Italic *n̥-

Latin in-

Proto-Indo-European *per-der.?

Proto-Indo-European *per-der.?

Proto-Indo-European *pér

Proto-Indo-European *-o

Proto-Indo-European *pró

Proto-Indo-European *pro-

Proto-Italic *pro-

Latin prō-

Proto-Indo-European *weyd-

Proto-Indo-European *-tós

Proto-Indo-European *widtós

Proto-Italic *wissos

Latin vīsus

Latin prōvīsus

Latin imprōvīsuslbor.

Portuguese improviso

Portuguese -ar

Portuguese improvisar

From improviso + -ar.

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ĩ.pɾo.viˈza(ʁ)/ [ĩ.pɾo.viˈza(h)]

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ĩ.pɾo.viˈza(ʁ)/ [ĩ.pɾo.viˈza(h)]
  • (São Paulo) IPA^(key): /ĩ.pɾo.viˈza(ɾ)/
  • (Rio de Janeiro) IPA^(key): /ĩ.pɾo.viˈza(ʁ)/ [ĩ.pɾo.viˈza(χ)]
  • (Caipira) IPA^(key): /ĩ.pɾo.viˈza(ɻ)/

 

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ĩ.pɾu.viˈzaɾ/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ĩ.pɾu.viˈzaɾ/
  • (Northern Portugal) IPA^(key): /ĩ.pɾu.biˈzaɾ/ [ĩ.pɾu.βiˈzaɾ]
  • (Southern Portugal) IPA^(key): /ĩ.pɾu.viˈza.ɾi/

• Hyphenation: im‧pro‧vi‧sar

Verb

improvisar (first-person singular present improviso, first-person singular preterite improvisei, past participle improvisado)

1. to improvise (to make something up or invent it as one goes on)

Conjugation

    Conjugation of improvisar (See Appendix:Portuguese verbs)

	Singular			Plural
	First-person (eu)	Second-person (tu)	Third-person (ele / ela / você)	First-person (nós)	Second-person (vós)	Third-person (eles / elas / vocês)
Infinitive
Impersonal	improvisar
Personal	improvisar	improvisares	improvisar	improvisarmos	improvisardes	improvisarem
Gerund
	improvisando
Past participle
Masculine	improvisado			improvisados
Feminine	improvisada			improvisadas
Indicative
Present	improviso	improvisas	improvisa	improvisamos	improvisais	improvisam
Imperfect	improvisava	improvisavas	improvisava	improvisávamos	improvisáveis	improvisavam
Preterite	improvisei	improvisaste	improvisou	improvisamos1, improvisámos2	improvisastes	improvisaram
Pluperfect	improvisara	improvisaras	improvisara	improvisáramos	improvisáreis	improvisaram
Future	improvisarei	improvisarás	improvisará	improvisaremos	improvisareis	improvisarão
Conditional	improvisaria	improvisarias	improvisaria	improvisaríamos	improvisaríeis	improvisariam
Subjunctive
Present	improvise	improvises	improvise	improvisemos	improviseis	improvisem
Imperfect	improvisasse	improvisasses	improvisasse	improvisássemos	improvisásseis	improvisassem
Future	improvisar	improvisares	improvisar	improvisarmos	improvisardes	improvisarem
Imperative
Affirmative		improvisa	improvise	improvisemos	improvisai	improvisem
Negative (não)		não improvises	não improvise	não improvisemos	não improviseis	não improvisem

¹Brazilian Portuguese.
²European Portuguese.

Derived terms

• improvisação

Further reading

• “improvisar”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2026

Spanish

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *né

Proto-Indo-European *n̥-

Proto-Italic *n̥-

Latin in-

Proto-Indo-European *per-der.?

Proto-Indo-European *per-der.?

Proto-Indo-European *pér

Proto-Indo-European *-o

Proto-Indo-European *pró

Proto-Indo-European *pro-

Proto-Italic *pro-

Latin prō-

Proto-Indo-European *weyd-

Proto-Indo-European *-tós

Proto-Indo-European *widtós

Proto-Italic *wissos

Latin vīsus

Latin prōvīsus

Latin improvīsuslbor.

Spanish improviso

Proto-Indo-European *-h₂

Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂

Proto-Indo-European *-yéti

Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti

Proto-Indo-European *-h₂tiinflu.

Proto-Italic *-ājō

Proto-Italic *-āō

Latin -āre

Old Spanish -ar

Spanish -ar

Spanish improvisar

From improviso (“unannounced”) + -ar.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /impɾobiˈsaɾ/ [ĩm.pɾo.β̞iˈsaɾ]
• Rhymes: -aɾ
• Syllabification: im‧pro‧vi‧sar

Verb

improvisar (first-person singular present improviso, first-person singular preterite improvisé, past participle improvisado)

1. to improvise (make something up as one goes on)

Conjugation

    Conjugation of improvisar (See Appendix:Spanish verbs)

infinitive			improvisar
gerund			improvisando
past participle				masculine		feminine
		singular		improvisado		improvisada
		plural		improvisados		improvisadas
		singular			plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
indicative		yo	tú vos	él/ella/ello usted	nosotros nosotras	vosotros vosotras	ellos/ellas ustedes
	present	improviso	improvisastú improvisásvos	improvisa	improvisamos	improvisáis	improvisan
	imperfect	improvisaba	improvisabas	improvisaba	improvisábamos	improvisabais	improvisaban
	preterite	improvisé	improvisaste	improvisó	improvisamos	improvisasteis	improvisaron
	future	improvisaré	improvisarás	improvisará	improvisaremos	improvisaréis	improvisarán
	conditional	improvisaría	improvisarías	improvisaría	improvisaríamos	improvisaríais	improvisarían
subjunctive		yo	tú vos	él/ella/ello usted	nosotros nosotras	vosotros vosotras	ellos/ellas ustedes
	present	improvise	improvisestú improvisésvos2	improvise	improvisemos	improviséis	improvisen
	imperfect (ra)	improvisara	improvisaras	improvisara	improvisáramos	improvisarais	improvisaran
	imperfect (se)	improvisase	improvisases	improvisase	improvisásemos	improvisaseis	improvisasen
	future1	improvisare	improvisares	improvisare	improvisáremos	improvisareis	improvisaren
imperative		—	tú vos	usted	nosotros nosotras	vosotros vosotras	ustedes
	affirmative		improvisatú improvisávos	improvise	improvisemos	improvisad	improvisen
	negative		no improvises	no improvise	no improvisemos	no improviséis	no improvisen

¹Rare; now chiefly used in legal language.
²Argentine and Uruguayan voseo prefers the tuteo-form for the present subjunctive.

    Selected combined forms of improvisar

These forms are generated automatically and may not actually be used. Pronoun usage varies by region.

		singular			plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
with infinitive improvisar	dative	improvisarme	improvisarte	improvisarle, improvisarse	improvisarnos	improvisaros	improvisarles, improvisarse
	accusative	improvisarme	improvisarte	improvisarlo, improvisarla, improvisarse	improvisarnos	improvisaros	improvisarlos, improvisarlas, improvisarse
with gerund improvisando	dative	improvisándome	improvisándote	improvisándole, improvisándose	improvisándonos	improvisándoos	improvisándoles, improvisándose
	accusative	improvisándome	improvisándote	improvisándolo, improvisándola, improvisándose	improvisándonos	improvisándoos	improvisándolos, improvisándolas, improvisándose
with informal second-person singular tuteo imperative improvisa	dative	improvísame	improvísate	improvísale	improvísanos	not used	improvísales
	accusative	improvísame	improvísate	improvísalo, improvísala	improvísanos	not used	improvísalos, improvísalas
with informal second-person singular voseo imperative improvisá	dative	improvisame	improvisate	improvisale	improvisanos	not used	improvisales
	accusative	improvisame	improvisate	improvisalo, improvisala	improvisanos	not used	improvisalos, improvisalas
with formal second-person singular imperative improvise	dative	improvíseme	not used	improvísele, improvísese	improvísenos	not used	improvíseles
	accusative	improvíseme	not used	improvíselo, improvísela, improvísese	improvísenos	not used	improvíselos, improvíselas
with first-person plural imperative improvisemos	dative	not used	improvisémoste	improvisémosle	improvisémonos	improvisémoos	improvisémosles
	accusative	not used	improvisémoste	improvisémoslo, improvisémosla	improvisémonos	improvisémoos	improvisémoslos, improvisémoslas
with informal second-person plural imperative improvisad	dative	improvisadme	not used	improvisadle	improvisadnos	improvisaos	improvisadles
	accusative	improvisadme	not used	improvisadlo, improvisadla	improvisadnos	improvisaos	improvisadlos, improvisadlas
with formal second-person plural imperative improvisen	dative	improvísenme	not used	improvísenle	improvísennos	not used	improvísenles, improvísense
	accusative	improvísenme	not used	improvísenlo, improvísenla	improvísennos	not used	improvísenlos, improvísenlas, improvísense

Derived terms

• improvisación
• improvisador

Further reading

• “improvisar”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), 24th edition, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 30 October 2026