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alegra

ah-LEH-grah/aˈleɣra/

makes happy, cheers up

Also: gladdens
A small child hands a bright red balloon to another child, who immediately smiles widely with joy and surprise.
infinitivealegrar
gerundalegrando
past Participlealegrado

📝 In Action

Esta música siempre me alegra los días difíciles.

A1

This music always makes my difficult days happier.

Ella dice que una caminata por el bosque le alegra el alma.

A2

She says a walk in the forest cheers up her soul.

Si Usted me visita, eso me alegra muchísimo.

B1

If you visit me, that makes me extremely happy.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • contenta (makes content)
  • anima (animates/encourages)

Antonyms

  • entristece (saddens)

Common Collocations

  • alegra el corazón – cheers the heart
  • alegra el día – makes the day better

Cheer up!, Make happy!

Verb (Command Form)A1regular arinformal
A smiling person gently pats the shoulder of a sad, slumped person, offering encouragement to lift their spirits.
infinitivealegrar
gerundalegrando
past Participlealegrado

📝 In Action

¡Alegra a tu abuela, que está un poco triste!

A1

Cheer up your grandmother, she is a little sad!

¡Alegra esa cara y ven a bailar!

A1

Cheer up that face and come dance!

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • Anima (Cheer up/Encourage (command))

Common Collocations

  • ¡Alegra esa fiesta! – Liven up that party!

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedalegra
yoalegro
túalegras
ellos/ellas/ustedesalegran
nosotrosalegramos
vosotrosalegráis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedalegraba
yoalegraba
túalegrabas
ellos/ellas/ustedesalegraban
nosotrosalegrábamos
vosotrosalegrabais

preterite

él/ella/ustedalegró
yoalegré
túalegraste
ellos/ellas/ustedesalegraron
nosotrosalegramos
vosotrosalegrasteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedalegre
yoalegre
túalegres
ellos/ellas/ustedesalegren
nosotrosalegremos
vosotrosalegréis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedalegrara/alegrase
yoalegrara/alegrase
túalegraras/alegrases
ellos/ellas/ustedesalegraran/alegrasen
nosotrosalegráramos/alegrásemos
vosotrosalegrarais/alegraseis
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "alegra" in Spanish:

cheer up!→cheers up→gladdens→make happy!→makes happy→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: alegra

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'alegra' to describe a current action?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
alegrar(to make happy / to cheer up) — Verb
alegría(happiness / joy) — Noun
alegre(happy / cheerful) — Adjective
alegrarse(to become happy (reflexive)) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
integraentrega
📚 Etymology▼

The word comes from the Old Spanish verb 'alegrar,' which itself derives from the Latin prefix 'a-' (to/toward) and the root 'alacer' or 'alecris,' meaning 'lively' or 'quick.' It has always carried the sense of quickening or livening up the spirit.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: alegraItalian: allegra

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'alegra' and 'alegrarse'?

'Alegra' is when something *else* causes joy (Mi hijo me alegra el día). 'AlegraRSE' (seen in forms like 'me alegro') means the subject *feels* joy (Me alegro de verte — I am happy to see you).

Why does the 'tú' command form sound the same as the 'él/ella' present tense?

This is a simple pattern for all regular verbs ending in -AR, like 'alegrar.' The statement ('She sings'/'Ella canta') and the command ('Sing!'/'¡Canta!') share the exact same verb form.