adoptar
“adoptar” means “to adopt” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to adopt
Also: to take in
📝 In Action
Queremos adoptar un perro del refugio.
A1We want to adopt a dog from the shelter.
Ellos decidieron adoptar a un niño.
A2They decided to adopt a child.
Adoptar una mascota es una gran responsabilidad.
B1Adopting a pet is a big responsibility.
to adopt
Also: to take
📝 In Action
El gobierno va a adoptar nuevas medidas contra la contaminación.
B1The government is going to adopt new measures against pollution.
No deberías adoptar esa actitud tan negativa.
B2You shouldn't adopt such a negative attitude.
La empresa decidió adoptar una nueva estrategia de ventas.
B2The company decided to adopt a new sales strategy.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: adoptar
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence uses the personal 'a' correctly?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin 'adoptare', which means 'to choose for oneself'. It combines 'ad-' (to/towards) and 'optare' (to choose or wish).
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'adoptar' regular or irregular?
It is a perfectly regular -ar verb, meaning it follows the standard conjugation patterns for verbs like 'hablar' or 'cantar'.
Can I use 'adoptar' for a new hobby?
Yes! You can 'adoptar un hábito' (adopt a habit) or 'adoptar una costumbre' (adopt a custom) when you start doing something new regularly.
What is the difference between 'adoptar' and 'acoger'?
'Adoptar' is permanent and legal. 'Acoger' usually means to welcome or take in someone temporarily (like foster care).