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acerque

ah-SAYR-kehaˈθeɾke

“acerque” means “approach” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

approach, bring closer

Also: get near
VerbA2irregular (spelling change c -> qu) ar
A small red ball is rolling on a flat green field directly toward a large, stationary blue cube.
past Participleacercado
infinitiveacercar(se)
gerundacercando(se)

📝 In Action

Quiero que Juan se acerque a la cámara.

A2

I want Juan to move closer to the camera.

Acerque el micrófono a la boca, por favor.

B1

Bring the microphone closer to your mouth, please. (Formal command, Usted)

Dudo que yo me acerque a esa zona de peligro.

B2

I doubt that I approach that danger zone. (Yo form)

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • aproximar (to approximate)
  • arrimar (to push closer)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • acercarse a la puerta – to approach the door

reconcile, draw near

Also: harmonize
VerbB1irregular (spelling change c -> qu) arformal
Two distinct stylized thought bubbles, one bright yellow and one deep purple, are floating next to each other, touching and blending colors at the point of contact.
past Participleacercado
infinitiveacercar
gerundacercando

📝 In Action

Ojalá el gobierno acerque las posturas de ambos partidos.

B2

Hopefully, the government brings the positions of both parties closer (reconciles them).

Aunque el final del proyecto se acerque, debemos mantener la calma.

B1

Even though the end of the project is drawing near, we must remain calm.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • unificar (to unify)

Common Collocations

  • acercar posturas – to reconcile positions

Indicative

Present

yoacerco
túacercas
él/ella/ustedacerca
nosotrosacercamos
vosotrosacercáis
ellos/ellas/ustedesacercan

Preterite

yoacerqué
túacercaste
él/ella/ustedacercó
nosotrosacercamos
vosotrosacercasteis
ellos/ellas/ustedesacercaron

Imperfect

yoacercaba
túacercabas
él/ella/ustedacercaba
nosotrosacercábamos
vosotrosacercabais
ellos/ellas/ustedesacercaban

Subjunctive

Present Subjunctive

yoacerque
túacerques
él/ella/ustedacerque
nosotrosacerquemos
vosotrosacerquéis
ellos/ellas/ustedesacerquen

Imperfect Subjunctive

yoacercara/acercase
túacercaras/acercases
él/ella/ustedacercara/acercase
nosotrosacercáramos/acercásemos
vosotrosacercarais/acercaseis
ellos/ellas/ustedesacercaran/acercasen
View All Tenses & Moods →

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✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: acerque

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'acerque' as a formal command?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
acerca(he/she approaches (present tense)) — Verb
acercamiento(approach/rapprochement) — Noun
cerca(near/close) — Adverb
🎵 Rhymes▼
marqueaparque
📚 Etymology▼

The word comes from the adverb 'cerca' (near), which itself is related to the Latin word 'circa' (around, near). The verb 'acercar' literally means 'to make near.'

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: acercar

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does 'acerque' have a 'qu' instead of a 'c'?

This is a simple spelling rule to keep the sound consistent! Since the base verb 'acercar' has a hard 'k' sound, it must use 'qu' before the vowels 'e' and 'i' to maintain that sound. If it were 'acerce', it would sound like an 's' or 'th' sound.

Is 'acerque' used for 'I' or 'He/She/You formal'?

Both! 'Acerque' is the correct form for the 'yo' (I) and the 'él/ella/usted' (He/She/You formal) forms in the present subjunctive tense. Context will tell you which one is being used.