afinar
“afinar” means “to tune” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to tune
Also: to adjust
📝 In Action
Necesito afinar mi guitarra antes del concierto.
A2I need to tune my guitar before the concert.
El mecánico está afinando el motor del coche.
B1The mechanic is tuning up the car's engine.
Ella canta muy bien, nunca deja de afinar.
B2She sings very well; she is never out of tune.
to refine, to polish
Also: to hone
📝 In Action
Tenemos que afinar los detalles del contrato.
B1We need to refine the details of the contract.
El atleta está afinando su técnica para las Olimpiadas.
B2The athlete is polishing his technique for the Olympics.
Debes afinar tu olfato para detectar la calidad del café.
C1You must hone your sense of smell to detect the quality of the coffee.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: afinar
Question 1 of 3
If your guitar sounds bad, what do you need to do?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Spanish prefix 'a-' (towards) and the noun 'fino' (fine/delicate), ultimately from Latin 'finis' meaning 'end' or 'boundary' (referring to the final, finished state of something).
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can 'afinar' mean to lose weight?
In some countries like Spain or Chile, it can colloquially mean to become 'fino' (thin), but this is much less common than the meanings related to tuning or refining.
Is 'afinar' only for music?
No! While very common in music, it's also used for car engines, sharpening pencils (making them 'fine'), or polishing plans and strategies.
What is the difference between 'afinar' and 'terminar'?
'Terminar' simply means to finish. 'Afinar' implies you are finishing something with great care and attention to detail.