albergar
“albergar” means “to house” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to house, to host
Also: to shelter
📝 In Action
El museo alberga una colección increíble de arte moderno.
B1The museum houses an incredible collection of modern art.
Esta ciudad albergará los próximos Juegos Olímpicos.
B2This city will host the next Olympic Games.
El edificio puede albergar a más de quinientas personas.
B1The building can accommodate more than five hundred people.
to harbor
Also: to cherish
📝 In Action
Todavía albergo la esperanza de que todo salga bien.
B2I still harbor the hope that everything will turn out well.
No es bueno albergar rencor hacia los demás.
C1It is not good to harbor resentment toward others.
Él albergaba serias dudas sobre el éxito del plan.
C1He held serious doubts about the plan's success.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: albergar
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence correctly uses 'albergar' to mean 'to host'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Gothic word 'haribergo,' where 'hari' meant army and 'bergo' meant shelter or camp. Originally, it was the place where an army would stay.
First recorded: 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'albergar' the same as 'alojar'?
They are very similar! 'Alojar' is specifically about giving someone a place to sleep (like a hotel). 'Albergar' is broader—it can be used for feelings, events, or objects in a museum too.
When should I use the 'gu' spelling?
Use it whenever the ending starts with 'e'. This happens in the Past 'yo' form (albergué) and in all forms of the Present Subjunctive (albergue, albergues, etc.).
Is 'albergar' a common word in daily conversation?
It's more common in writing, news, or formal speech. In a casual chat with friends about where you're staying, you'd likely use 'quedarse' or 'hospedarse'.