abrumar
“abrumar” means “to overwhelm” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to overwhelm
Also: to weigh down
📝 In Action
Me abruma pensar en todo lo que tengo que hacer esta semana.
B1It overwhelms me to think about everything I have to do this week.
La cantidad de información nueva puede abrumar a los estudiantes.
B2The amount of new information can overwhelm the students.
No dejes que los problemas te abrumen; ve paso a paso.
B1Don't let the problems weigh you down; go step by step.
to smother/shower
📝 In Action
Sus abuelos lo abruman con regalos cada Navidad.
B2His grandparents overwhelm/smother him with gifts every Christmas.
Me abrumas con tantos cumplidos.
C1You're overwhelming me with so many compliments.
Fue abrumada por la atención de la prensa.
B2She was overwhelmed by the press attention.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "abrumar" in Spanish:
to overwhelm→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: abrumar
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence means 'I feel overwhelmed by my chores'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the word 'bruma' (fog or mist). The original idea was that something overwhelming 'clouds' your vision or mind, much like a thick fog makes it hard to see or move.
First recorded: 17th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'abrumar' only for bad things?
Not necessarily! While it usually describes stress, it can also describe being overwhelmed by beauty, kindness, or positive emotions that are simply very intense.
What is the difference between 'abrumar' and 'agobiar'?
They are very similar! 'Agobiar' is often used for everyday stress (like being busy), while 'abrumar' can feel a bit heavier or more emotional. In many cases, you can use them interchangeably.
Is it a regular verb?
Yes! It follows the standard pattern for all -ar verbs, so if you know how to conjugate 'hablar', you can conjugate 'abrumar'.