activar
“activar” means “to activate” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to activate
Also: to turn on, to trigger
📝 In Action
Necesito activar mi tarjeta de crédito nueva.
A2I need to activate my new credit card.
La alarma se activó por accidente a las tres de la mañana.
B1The alarm went off (activated) by accident at three in the morning.
Puedes activar el modo avión en los ajustes.
A2You can turn on airplane mode in the settings.
to stimulate
Also: to energize
📝 In Action
Beber agua fría puede ayudar a activar el metabolismo.
B2Drinking cold water can help stimulate the metabolism.
El gobierno quiere activar la economía con nuevas leyes.
C1The government wants to boost the economy with new laws.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: activar
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence uses 'activar' correctly for a new bank card?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'activus', which describes someone or something that is doing an action rather than just waiting.
First recorded: 17th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'activar' a regular verb?
Yes! It follows the standard pattern for all verbs ending in -ar, with no stem changes.
Can I use 'activar' for turning on a light?
Not really. For lights, 'encender' or 'prender' is much more natural. 'Activar' sounds like you are setting a sensor or a complex system.
What is the difference between 'activar' and 'habilitar'?
They are very similar. 'Activar' usually means to start a process, while 'habilitar' means to 'enable' or give permission for something to happen.