The Present Tense of influir is used to describe actions that are currently influencing or having an effect, for example, La publicidad influye en las decisiones de compra de los consumidores. (Advertising influences consumers’ purchasing decisions.)

This verb follows the -uir to -uye spelling-changing conjugation pattern, where the “u” changes to a “y” in some forms.

Conjugations

Conjugations of Influir (to influence) in the Present Tense tense (Latin American Spanish):

Influir generally means to have an influence or effect on something or someone, but has several different meanings in the Present Tense, some of which might surprise you.

To influence or affect: This is the most common meaning, referring to having an impact or sway over something or someone. For example, El clima influye en nuestro estado de ánimo. (The weather influences our mood.)

To play a role: It can also mean to be a contributing factor or have a bearing on a situation. For example, Varios factores influyen en el éxito de un proyecto. (Several factors influence the success of a project.)

To intervene or mediate: In some contexts, it can mean to intervene or act as a mediator in a situation. For example, El gobierno influye en las negociaciones de paz. (The government intervenes in the peace negotiations.)

To have an effect (colloquial): In informal speech, it can be used to express that something has an effect or impact, often in a negative sense. For example, El ruido de la construcción influye un montón. (The construction noise is really annoying/having a big effect.)

Examples

Examples of Influir in the Present Tense

El clima influye en nuestros planes para el fin de semana. (The weather influences our plans for the weekend.)

Las últimas noticias influyen en la opinión pública. (The latest news influences public opinion.)

Los padres influyen mucho en el desarrollo de sus hijos. (Parents greatly influence their children’s development.)

El jefe influye en las decisiones importantes de la empresa. (The boss influences the company’s important decisions.)

Tus amigos influyen en tus hábitos y estilo de vida. (Your friends influence your habits and lifestyle.)

La publicidad influye en nuestras decisiones de compra. (Advertising influences our purchasing decisions.)

Los valores culturales influyen en nuestras creencias y comportamientos. (Cultural values influence our beliefs and behaviors.)

Ustedes influyen en el ambiente de trabajo con su actitud positiva. (You all influence the work environment with your positive attitude.)

Yo influyo en la toma de decisiones en mi familia. (I influence the decision-making in my family.)

Nosotros influimos en la comunidad a través de nuestro trabajo voluntario. (We influence the community through our volunteer work.)

Tú influyes en tus compañeros de clase con tu dedicación al estudio. (You influence your classmates with your dedication to studying.)

Las redes sociales influyen en la forma en que nos comunicamos. (Social media influences the way we communicate.)

Los líderes políticos influyen en las leyes y políticas de un país. (Political leaders influence a country’s laws and policies.)

La tecnología influye en nuestro estilo de vida moderno. (Technology influences our modern lifestyle.)

Los artistas influyen en la cultura y la sociedad con su arte. (Artists influence culture and society with their art.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Influir (to influence) in the Present Tense tense (Latin American Spanish) with English Translations:

This post covers Latin American Spanish. For Castilian Spanish, click here

Synonyms

The Present tense is also known as the Simple Present, Present Simple, Present Tense, or Present Indicative in English, and as Presente de Indicativo, Presente Simple, Tiempo Presente, or Indicativo Presente in Spanish.