alabar
“alabar” means “to praise” in Spanish (to say good things about someone or something).
to praise
Also: to extol, to worship
📝 In Action
El profesor alabó el esfuerzo de sus estudiantes.
A2The teacher praised his students' effort.
Es importante alabar los logros de los demás.
B1It is important to praise the achievements of others.
Los críticos alabaron la nueva película por su originalidad.
B2Critics praised the new movie for its originality.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: alabar
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence correctly uses 'alabar' to mean 'to praise a person'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'adlaudare', which combines 'ad' (to) and 'laudare' (to praise). It shares the same root as the English word 'laud'.
First recorded: 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'alabar' only used for God?
No. While it is very common in religious settings, it is used frequently in secular contexts to praise someone's work, personality, or achievements.
Is 'alabar' a regular verb?
Yes, it is a perfectly regular '-ar' verb, so it follows all the standard conjugation rules.
What is the difference between 'alabar' and 'elogiar'?
'Alabar' is broader and can be used for anything from basic praise to religious worship. 'Elogiar' is typically more formal and specifically refers to praising someone's merits or work.