500 Spanish Verbs That You Already Know
The Spanish verbs below either closely resemble one of the listed English definitions, or resemble a word with a similar meaning.
abandonar v. to abandon, to desert
abominar v. to detest, to abominate
abortar v. to miscarry, to have a miscarriage, to have an abortion
absolver v. to absolve, to acquit
absorber v. to soak up, to absorb
abundar v. to be abundant, to be plentiful
abusar v. to take advantage, to abuse
acampar v. to camp, to encamp
acaramelar v. to coat with caramel
acarrear v. to cause, to carry, to transport, to bring upon (oneself)
acceder v. to agree, to gain access to, to accede
acelerar v. to accelerate, to hasten, to hurry
acentuar v. to emphasize, to accent, to stress, to accentuate
aceptar v. to accept, to agree to
acidificar v. to acidify
acidular v. to make acidic, to acidulate
aclamar v. to acclaim, to applaud
aclimatar v. to acclimatize, to acclimate
acomodar v. to seat, to put up, to accommodate, to arrange, to employ
acompañar v. to accompany, to escort
acomplejar v. to give a complex
acordar v. to agree (upon)
acostumbrarse v. to get use to
acostumbrar v. to be in the habit of, to be accustomed
acreditar v. to credit, to get a reputation for, to accredit
activar v. to activate, to expedite
actualizar v. to update, to bring up to date
actuar v. to perform, to act, to operate
acumular v. to gather, to accumulate
acusar v. to accuse
adaptar v. to adapt
adherir v. to stick, to adhere
adicionar v. to add, to add to
adivinar v. to divine, to foretell, to guess, to solve, to prophesy
admirar v. to admire
admitir v. to admit, to grant
adoptar v. to adopt
adorar v. to adore, to worship
adornar v. to adorn, to decorate, to embroider
adulterar v. to adulterate, to commit adultery
advertir v. to advise, to warn
afectar v. to affect
afirmar v. to affirm, to assert, to make secure, to state, to strengthen
agitar v. to agitate, to stir
agravar v. to aggravate, to make worse
agrupar v. to group
airear v. to air, to ventilate
ajustar v. to adjust, to fit, to regulate
alarmar v. to frighten, to alarm, to alert
alegar v. to assert, to allege, to plead, to quote
alegorizar v. to allegorize
alertar v. to alert
alfabetizar v. to alphabetize
aliar v. to ally
alienar v. to alienate, to estrange
alistar v. to enroll, to list, to enlist
aliviar v. to ease, to relieve, to soothe
almibarar v. to preserve in syrup
alternar v. to vary, to alternate, to socialize
aludir v. to mention, to allude to
amasar v. to knead, to amass, to massage
ambicionar v. to aspire to, to covet, to lust after
ameritar v. to merit, to deserve
amnistiar v. to amnesty, to grant amnesty to
amoldar v. to mold
ampliar v. to enlarge, to increase, to extend, to amplify
amplificar v. to enlarge, to amplify
amputar v. to cut off, to amputate
analizar v. to analyze, to analyse
anestesiar v. to anaesthetize, to anesthetize
anexar v. to attach, to append, to annex
animar v. to cheer up, to encourage, to liven up, to animate, to enliven
anticipar v. to pay in advance, to anticipate, to bring forward, to look forward to
anular v. to annul, to cancel, to rescind
aparear v. to mate, to match
apasionarse v. to be passionate about, to get excited
apasionar v. to be passionate about
apersonarse v. to appear in person, to have a business interview
aplaudir v. to applaud, to clap
aplicar v. to administer, to apply, to put into practice
aprehender v. to seize, to understand, to detain, to apprehend
aprovisionar v. to supply, to provision
aproximar v. to bring near
arbitrar v. to arbitrate, to referee
archivar v. to save, to archive, to file
argumentar v. to argue
armar v. to assemble, to arm, to reinforce
armonizar v. to reconcile, to harmonize
aromatizar v. to spice, to scent
arrestar v. to arrest, to detain, to imprison
arriscar v. to risk
arrollar v. to roll up, to coil, to sweep away
arruinar v. to destroy, to ruin
articular v. to articulate, to join together
ascender v. to ascend, to amount to
asesinar v. to murder, to assassinate
asignar v. to allocate, to assign, to apportion
asimilarse v. to become assimilated
asimilarse v. to resemble
asimilar v. to assimilate
asistir v. to attend, to assist, to care for
asociar v. to connect, to associate
aspirar v. to inhale, to breathe in, to aspire
asumir v. to take on, to assume (responsibility, aspect)
atacar v. to attack
atemperar v. to moderate, to temper
atender v. to deal with, to look after, to wait on
atenuar v. to attenuate, to minimize, to extenuate
aterrorizar v. to terrify, to terrorize
atestar v. to attest, to testify to
atomizar v. to spray, to atomize
atrapar v. to deceive, to capture, to trap, to catch
atribuir v. to attribute (to)
atrofiar v. to atrophy
auditar v. to audit
augurar v. to predict, to augur
auscultar v. to sound, to auscultate
automatizar v. to automate
autorizar v. to authorize
aventurar v. to venture, to risk
avisar v. to call, to tell, to notify
balancear v. to balance
basar v. to base
batir v. to beat, to strike, to batter, to pound
beatificar v. to beatify
beneficiar v. to benefit
blanquear v. to whiten, to bleach
blasfemar v. to blaspheme
blasonar v. to emblazon
bloquear v. to block, to block off
boicotear v. to boycott
botonar v. to button, to bud, to sprout
boxear v. to box
broncearse v. to tan oneself, to tan, to bronze, to get a tan
broncear v. to tan, to bronze
brutalizar v. to rape, to brutalize
calcificar v. to calcify
calcinar v. to burn, to reduce to ashes
calcular v. to calculate
calibrar v. to gauge, to calibrate
calmar v. to calm, to soothe
camuflar v. to camouflage
canalizar v. to channel, to canalize, to pipe
cancelar v. to cancel
cancerarse v. to become cancerous, to get cancer
canonizar v. to canonize
caotizar v. to throw into chaos
capear v. to deceive, to dodge, to wave the cape at
capitalizar v. to capitalize, to compound
capitanear v. to command, to captain
captar v. to get, to collect, to raise (money), to win (votes), to grasp, to capture
capturar v. to seize, to capture
caracterizar v. to characterize
carbonizar v. to carbonize
carpintear v. to carpenter
castigar v. to punish, to afflict, to penalize
castrar v. to geld, to castrate, to prune
catalogar v. to classify, to catalog
catapultar v. to catapult
causar v. to cause
cauterizar v. to eradicate, to cauterize
ceder v. to cede, to yield, to transfer, to give up
celebrar v. to celebrate
censar v. to take a census
censurar v. to censure, to censor, to condemn
centralizar v. to centralize
centrar v. to center, to focus, to concentrate
certificar v. to certify, to attest
clasificar v. to classify, to sort
coincidir v. to agree, to coincide, to happen to meet, to match, to happen at the same time, to occur simultaneously
coleccionar v. to collect, to collect (only for objects, not money)
comenzar v. to begin, to commence, to start
cometer v. to commit, to carry out, to make
competir v. to compete
comprender v. to understand
comprometer v. to reserve, to invest, to compromise, to jeopardize, to implicate in
comunicar v. to announce, to inform, to communicate
concluir v. to finish, to conclude, to end
condenar v. to sentence, to condemn, to damn, to wall up, to confict
condicionar v. to determine, to condition
conducirse v. to behave, to conduct oneself
conducir v. to lead, to drive, to conduct
confesar v. to confess
confirmar v. to confirm
conformarse v. to be happy (with), to comply (with), to take the form (of)
conformar v. to authorize, to shape, to make up, to reconcile, to agree (with)
congelar v. to freeze, to get frostbitten, to congeal
congregarse v. to gather, to congregate
congregar v. to bring together
conservar v. to preserve, to conserve, to save
considerarse v. to consider oneself
considerar v. to consider
constituir v. to constitute, to make up
construir v. to build, to construct
consultar v. to consult
contaminar v. to pollute, to contaminate
contar v. to count, to relate, to tell
contemplar v. to meditate, to consider, to contemplate
contener v. to contain, to hold
contestar v. to reply, to answer
continuar v. to continue, to go on
contrastar v. to contrast with
contratar v. to hire, to contract
controlar v. to control
convenir v. to agree, to convene, to be appropriate
convertir v. to convert
cooperar v. to cooperate
coordinar v. to coordinate
copiar v. to copy
corresponder v. to correspond
costar v. to cost
criticar v. to criticize
cumplir v. to complete, to fulfill
debatir v. to discuss, to debate
decantar v. to decant, to praise, to pour out
decidir v. to decide
declararse v. to declare oneself
declarar v. to declare
decretar v. to order, to declare, to render a judgment, to decree
dedicarse v. to devote oneself, to devote oneself (to)
dedicarse v. to devote oneself to, to dedicate oneself to
dedicar v. to consecrate, to dedicate
deducir v. to deduce, to deduct, to infer
defender v. to defend, to protect
defraudar v. to disappoint, to cheat, to let down, to defraud
demostrar v. to demonstrate, to prove
denunciar v. to denounce, to report
depender v. to depend
depositar v. to deposit
desactivarse v. to be disabled
desactivar v. to defuse, to deactivate, to neutralize
desautorizar v. to deny, to deprive of authority
descolonizar v. to decolonize
descomponer v. to break down, to cause to decompose
descontar v. to deduct, to discount
descontinuar v. to discontinue
describir v. to describe
desear v. to desire, to wish, to want
designar v. to appoint, to designate, to denote
desinteresar v. to lose interest
destrozar v. to destroy, to shatter, to ruin, to smash
destruir v. to destroy
detectar v. to detect
detener v. to detain, to stop (someone), to hold up
deteriorarse v. to get damaged
deteriorar v. to damage
determinar v. to determine
dialogar v. to have a conversation
disciplinar v. to discipline, to whip
discutir v. to discuss, to argue
diseñar v. to design
disolverse v. to dissolve, to break up
disolver v. to dissolve, to break up
dispensar v. to excuse, to dispense, to distribute, to exempt
distinguir v. to distinguish
distribuir v. to allocate, to distribute, to stow, to give out
divertirse v. to have a good time, to enjoy oneself
divertir v. to entertain
divorciar v. to part, to separate, to divide
dominarse v. to control oneself
dominar v. to stand out, to control, to dominate, to overpower
donar v. to donate
duplicarse v. to double
duplicar v. to double, to copy, to duplicate
durar v. to last
economizar v. to economize
educar v. to educate, to rear, to bring up (children)
ejecutar v. to perform, to carry out, to execute
embotellar v. to bottle
emigrar v. to emigrate, to migrate
emitir v. to emit
emplear v. to employ, to use
encantar v. to enchant, to like very much, to love
ensacar v. to put in a bag, to bag
enterrar v. to bury, to inter
entonar v. to sing, to intone
entrar v. to enter
entusiasmar v. to delight, to excite, to enthuse
enunciar v. to enunciate
escalar v. to climb, to scale, to burgle, to escalate, to climb (a mountain)
especificar v. to list, to specify, to itemize
especular v. to speculate
esquiar v. to ski
estabilizarse v. to become stable
estabilizar v. to stabilize
establecer v. to establish
estacionar v. to park
estimar v. to esteem, to estimate, to respect, to value
estudiar v. to study
evacuar v. to evacuate, to drain
evaluar v. to evaluate, to assess
examinar v. to test, to examine
exceder v. to exceed, to surpass
exhibirse v. to show oneself off, to expose oneself
exhibir v. to exhibit, to put on display
exhortar v. to exhort
existir v. to live, to exist
expandirse v. to expand, to spread
expandir v. to expand, to enlarge, to spread
explicarse v. to explain, to explain oneself
explorar v. to explore, to reconnoitre, to probe, to scan
explotar v. to explode, to exploit, to blow up, 05/14/06, Ataques en Sao Paulo
expresar v. to express
extender v. to extend, to spread, to spread out
fabricar v. to fabricate, to manufacture
facilitar v. to facilitate, to make easier
falsificar v. to forge, to fake, to counterfeit, to falsify
faltar v. to miss, to lack, to need, to be absent, to be lacking
filmar v. to film
financiar v. to finance, to fund
flexibilizar v. to relax, to adapt, to make more flexible, to downsize
fomentar v. to encourage, to promote, to foment, to stir up
formalizar v. to draw up, to formalize, to formulate
formar v. to shape, to form
forzar v. to force, to strain
fracturarse v. to fracture
fracturar v. to fracture
funcionar v. to function, to work, to run (machines)
garantizar v. to guarantee
gobernar v. to govern, to rule
golear v. to thrash, to score (a goal)
grabar v. to record, to engrave, to etch, to tape
guardar v. to guard, to watch over, to save, to save (a place), to keep, to save (documents)
guiar v. to lead, to guide
habitar v. to reside, to live (in), to inhabit, to live
idear v. to design, to devise, to think up
ignorar v. to be ignorant of, to not know
ilegalizar v. to ban, to outlaw, to make illegal
imitar v. to imitate, to mimic
impedir v. to hinder, to prevent, to impede
implicar v. to involve, to imply
imponer v. to impose
importar v. to matter, to be important
imposibilitar v. to prevent, to disable, to make impossible
imprimir v. to imprint, to print, to impress
imputar v. to attribute (to), to impute (to)
inaugurar v. to inaugurate, to unveil
incapacitar v. to incapacitate, to handicap
inclinarse v. to lean, to bend, to stoop, to be inclined
inclinar v. to lean, to tilt, to incline
incluir v. to include, to enclose
incorporarse v. to join
incorporar v. to involve, to incorporate, to embody
indemnizar v. to compensate, to indemnify
indicar v. to indicate, to point out, to show, to point to
inducir v. to induce, to persuade, to influence
inestabilizar v. to destabilize
infiltrarse v. to filter, to permeate, to infiltrate
infiltrar v. to infiltrate
influir v. to influence
informar v. to inform, to report
iniciar v. to begin, to start, to initiate
inmigrar v. to immigrate
inscribir v. to record, to inscribe
insistir v. to insist, to persist
inspeccionar v. to check, to examine, to inspect, to supervise
instituir v. to teach, to instruct, to institute
insultar v. to insult
intentar v. to try, to attempt
interceptar v. to block, to intercept
interesar v. to interest
interrogar v. to interrogate, to question
introducir v. to introduce
inventar v. to invent, to create
investigar v. to research, to investigate, to audit, to check out
invitar v. to invite
justificar v. to excuse, to justify, to account for
juzgar v. to judge
lamentarse v. to complain, to mourn, to lament
lamentar v. to regret, to lament, to bemoan
mantener v. to support, to maintain, to keep, to store
marcar v. to observe, to mark, to note
marchar v. to walk, to march, to function (machine)
mencionar v. to mention
meritar v. to merit
modificar v. to alter, to modify
montar v. to climb, to mount, to get on, to wind (a watch)
motivar v. to motivate, to cause, to justify, to provide a reason for
mover v. to move, to persuade, to excite
movilizar v. to mobilize
navegar v. to swim, to navigate
necesitar v. to need
negociar v. to deal in, to trade in
normalizar v. to standardize, to normalize
obligar v. to force
observar v. to observe
obtener v. to obtain, to get
ocultar v. to hide, to conceal
ocupar v. to occupy
ocurrir v. to happen, to occur
ofrecer v. to offer
operarse v. to occur, to come about, to have an operation
operar v. to bring about, to effect, to operate, to operate on, to use, to do business
ordenar v. to arrange, to order, to command
organizar v. to arrange, to set up, to organize
participar v. to inform, to participate, to take part
pasar v. to pass, to spend (time), to spend, to happen
patronizar v. to patronize
penalizar v. to penalize, to criminalize
percibir v. to perceive
perdonar v. to excuse, to forgive, to pardon
permanecer v. to remain, to stay
permitir v. to admit, to grant, to allow, to permit
perpetrar v. to perpetrate
perseguir v. to pursue, to persecute
personalizar v. to personalize
pintar v. to paint
plagiar v. to abduct, to kidnap, to plagiarize, to pirate
planear v. to plan, to glide, to hover
posponer v. to postpone
postular v. to demand, to postulate, to put forward, to collect (for charity)
practicar v. to practice
predecir v. to foretell, to predict, to forecast
prefabricar v. to prefabricate
preferir v. to prefer
prejuzgar v. to prejudge
premeditar v. to plan, to premeditate
preocupar v. to bother, to worry
preparar v. to prepare
presentarse v. to introduce oneself, to apply for, to turn up, to show up
presentar v. to display, to introduce, to present, to show
presidir v. to preside over, to dominate
presumir v. to be conceited, to presume, to flirt with
pretender v. to claim, to attempt
prevenir v. to foresee, to anticipate, to warn, to prejudice, to bias, to prevent
probar v. to prove, to try, to test
proceder v. to behave, to be right, to proceed, to come from
proclamar v. to proclaim
producir v. to cause, to produce, to create
programar v. to program (a computer), to plan, to schedule, to program (with a computer)
progresar v. to progress
prohibir v. to prohibit, to forbid, to outlaw
prolongar v. to extend, to produce, to prolong
prometer v. to promise
promover v. to promote, to further
pronunciar v. to pronounce
proponer v. to propose
proseguir v. to prosecute
prostituir v. to prostitute
proteger v. to protect
protestar v. to protest
provocar v. to cause, to induce, to provoke
ratificar v. to confirm, to ratify
reaccionar v. to react
realizar v. to fulfill, to realize, to carry out, to accomplish
rebelarse v. to rebel
rebelarse v. to rebel against
rechazar v. to reflect, to reject, to repel, to push away
recibir v. to get, to receive
reciclar v. to recycle, to modify, to retrain
recitar v. to recite
reclamar v. to demand, to claim
recomendar v. to advise, to recommend
rectificar v. to correct, to rectify, to straighten out, to add (cooking)
reducir v. to reduce
referirse v. to refer to
referir v. to refer, to relate
reflexionar v. to think over, to reflect on, to meditate
refugiarse v. to shelter, to take refuge
registrar v. to search, to examine
regresar v. to go back, to return, to regress, to return (to a place)
regularizar v. to standardize, to regularize
rehabilitar v. to rehabilitate, to reinstate
reiterar v. to repeat, to reiterate
relacionarse v. to be connected, to be related, to mix with (socially)
relatar v. to relate, to tell
remitir v. to transmit, to forward, to remit
remontar v. to scare away, to go back up, to get back on
remover v. to stir, to remove, to toss
renunciar v. to renounce
reparar v. to notice, to observe, to repair, to mend
repetir v. to repeat
representar v. to represent
reproducir v. to reproduce
repulsar v. to refuse, to reject, to repulse, to condemn
resolver v. to resolve, to solve, to settle, to dissolve
respetarse v. to have self-respect, to respect oneself, to respect each other
respetar v. to observe, to respect, to conserve
responder v. to respond, to reply, to answer
restablecer v. to reestablish, to restore
retener v. to retain
retirar v. to withdraw, to retire, to withdraw (funds)
retornar v. to replace, to return, to come back, to put back
revivir v. to revive
revocar v. to revoke, to repeal
revolver v. to stir, to turn over (earth), to look through (papers), to turn over, to revolve
saludar v. to greet, to salute
salvarse v. to escape, to be saved, to be an exception
salvar v. to save
saquear v. to plunder, to sack, to loot
satisfacer v. to satisfy, to meet, to pay, to expiate
secuestrar v. to hijack, to abduct, to kidnap
secundar v. to support, to back, to take part in, to second
seleccionar v. to choose, to pick, to select
separar v. to separate, to detach, to sort, to set apart
servir v. to serve
simbolizar v. to symbolize
socializar v. to socialize, to nationalize, to collectivize
sofocar v. to choke, to suffocate, to stifle
solicitar v. to seek, to ask for, to court, to apply for, to apply (for a job, to university, etc.), to apply (for a job)
solucionar v. to resolve, to solve
soportar v. to support, to bear, to resist, to put up with, to tolerate
sospechar v. to suspect
suavizar v. to soften, to smooth out, to temper
subscribir v. to sign, to subscribe, to agree to
sufrir v. to suffer, to endure, to undergo
sugerir v. to hint, to suggest
suicidarse v. to commit suicide
suicidar v. to murder (making it look like suicide)
sumar v. to add, to summarize, to add up to
sumergir v. to sink, to submerge, to plunge, to immerse
supervisar v. to supervise
suponer v. to suppose, to assume
suscribirse v. to subscribe (to)
suspender v. to hang, to suspend, to hang up
tatuarse v. to get a tattoo
tatuar v. to tattoo
telefonear v. to telephone
telegrafiar v. to telegraph, to cable
temblar v. to shake, to tremble, to quake, to shiver
terminar v. to finish, to end, to terminate
torpedear v. to torpedo
tostar v. to tan, to toast, to roast (coffee)
tranquilizarse v. to calm down
tranquilizar v. to calm down
transformar v. to transform
transmitir v. to transmit
transmudar v. to transmute
unificar v. to unite, to unify, to standardize
unir v. to unite, to join, to connect, to bind, to attach
urbanizar v. to urbanize, to develop (land)
usar v. to employ, to use, to wear
utilizar v. to utilize
vacilar v. to hesitate, to totter, to waver, to vacillate
vandalizar v. to vandalize
variar v. to change, to alter, to vary, to differ
verificar v. to verify, to check, to inspect
vigilar v. to watch (over), to keep guard, to look out for
violar v. to rape
visitar v. to visit
votar v. to vow, to vote