aferrar
“aferrar” means “to grasp” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to grasp
Also: to clutch, to seize
📝 In Action
El escalador aferró la roca con fuerza.
B1The climber grasped the rock tightly.
Aferró el volante cuando el coche empezó a patinar.
B2He seized the steering wheel when the car started to skid.
La niña aferraba su muñeca contra el pecho.
B1The girl was clutching her doll against her chest.
to cling to
Also: to stick to
📝 In Action
Se aferra a la idea de que todo saldrá bien.
B2She clings to the idea that everything will turn out fine.
No debemos aferrarnos al pasado.
B1We shouldn't hold onto the past.
El político se aferró a su cargo hasta el final.
C1The politician clung to his position until the end.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: aferrar
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence means 'Don't cling to the past'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Derived from the Spanish prefix 'a-' (towards) and the Latin word 'ferrum' (iron). It literally means 'to bind with iron' or 'to make hard as iron.'
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'aferrar' common in conversation?
It is less common than 'agarrar' for simple physical actions. However, the reflexive form 'aferrarse' is very common when talking about emotions or stubbornness.
Can I use 'aferrar' for a person I love?
Yes, 'aferrarse a alguien' means you are clinging to someone, often suggesting you don't want to lose them or are being overly dependent.
Is 'aferrar' a regular verb?
Yes, it follows the standard pattern for verbs ending in -ar.