A brightly colored illustration showing one character gently handing a large, symbolic key to another character, who is smiling broadly while accepting it with an open hand, illustrating acceptance.

aceptarlo

ah-sep-TAHR-loh

Verb (Infinitive Form)A2regular ar

to accept it?agreeing to a situation or idea,to take it?receiving a physical object, often figuratively

Also:to agree to it?a proposal or condition

Quick Reference

infinitiveaceptar

gerundaceptando

past Participleaceptado

📝 In Action

Es difícil, pero tienes que aceptarlo.

It's difficult, but you have to accept it.

Ella decidió no aceptarlo después de leer la letra pequeña.

She decided not to accept it after reading the fine print.

Si te ofrecen el trabajo, ¿vas a aceptarlo?

If they offer you the job, are you going to accept it?

Word Connections

Synonyms

admitirlo (to admit it)
reconocerlo (to recognize/acknowledge it)

Antonyms

rechazarlo (to reject it)
negarlo (to deny it)

Common Collocations

debes aceptarlo – you must accept it
es mejor aceptarlo – it is better to accept it

💡 Grammar Points

The Structure: Verb + 'it'

This word is the base verb aceptar (to accept) joined together with the direct object pronoun lo (it/him). The whole phrase means 'to accept it'.

When to Glue the Pronoun

In Spanish, the little words that mean 'it' or 'me' (pronouns) stick to the end of the verb only when the verb is in the infinitive (the '-ar' form, like aceptar), the gerund (the '-ando' form, like aceptando), or an affirmative command.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Misplacing the Pronoun

Mistake: "Yo quiero lo aceptar."

Correction: Yo quiero aceptarlo. When you have two verbs (like 'quiero' + infinitive), the pronoun *lo* must either go before the first verb ('Lo quiero aceptar') OR attached to the second verb ('Quiero aceptarlo').

⭐ Usage Tips

Flexibility in Placement

When aceptarlo follows a conjugated verb (like debo aceptarlo), you always have the option to detach lo and place it before the conjugated verb (Lo debo aceptar). Both ways are natural.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: aceptarlo

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses the pronoun placement when the verb is conjugated?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

aceptar(to accept) - verb

aceptación(acceptance) - noun

aceptable(acceptable) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is there no accent mark on 'aceptarlo'?

Spanish words naturally stress the second-to-last syllable unless marked otherwise. In 'aceptarlo' (a-cep-TAR-lo), the stress falls naturally on 'TAR', which is the second-to-last syllable, so no extra accent mark is needed. If you added a second pronoun (e.g., *aceptárselo*), the stress would shift, and an accent would be required.

Can 'aceptarlo' mean 'to accept him'?

Yes, *lo* can mean 'it' or 'him' (as a direct object). So, 'Tienes que aceptarlo' could mean 'You have to accept the situation' OR 'You have to accept him' (referring to a male person).