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aliviar

ah-lee-vee-ahr/aliˈβjaɾ/

“aliviar” means “to relieve” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

to relieve

Also: to soothe, to ease
VerbB1regular ar
Latin America
A person placing a cool, damp cloth on the forehead of another person resting in bed.
gerundaliviando
past Participlealiviado
infinitivealiviar

📝 In Action

Esta pastilla te ayudará a aliviar el dolor de cabeza.

A2

This pill will help you relieve your headache.

Escuchar música me ayuda a aliviar el estrés del trabajo.

B1

Listening to music helps me ease the stress from work.

Sintió un gran consuelo al aliviar su conciencia.

B2

He felt great comfort in easing his conscience.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • calmar (to calm)
  • mitigar (to mitigate/lessen)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • aliviar el dolor – to relieve the pain
  • aliviar la tensión – to ease the tension

to lighten

Also: to unburden
VerbB2regular ar
A person helping another person by lifting one side of a heavy wooden crate.
gerundaliviando
past Participlealiviado
infinitivealiviar

📝 In Action

Necesitamos contratar a alguien más para aliviar tu carga de trabajo.

B2

We need to hire someone else to lighten your workload.

Aliviaron el peso del camión antes de cruzar el puente.

B2

They lightened the truck's load before crossing the bridge.

Compartir tus problemas puede aliviar el peso que llevas.

C1

Sharing your problems can lighten the weight you are carrying.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • descargar (to unload/lighten)
  • aligerar (to lighten/speed up)

Antonyms

  • cargar (to load)
  • sobrecargar (to overload)

Common Collocations

  • aliviar la carga – to lighten the load
  • aliviar el peso – to ease the weight

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesaliviaran
yoaliviara
túaliviaras
vosotrosaliviarais
nosotrosaliviáramos
él/ella/ustedaliviara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesalivien
yoalivie
túalivies
vosotrosaliviéis
nosotrosaliviemos
él/ella/ustedalivie

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesaliviaron
yoalivié
túaliviaste
vosotrosaliviasteis
nosotrosaliviamos
él/ella/ustedalivió

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesaliviaban
yoaliviaba
túaliviabas
vosotrosaliviabais
nosotrosaliviábamos
él/ella/ustedaliviaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesalivian
yoalivio
túalivias
vosotrosaliviáis
nosotrosaliviamos
él/ella/ustedalivia
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "aliviar" in Spanish:

to ease→to lighten→to unburden→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: aliviar

Question 1 of 3

Which sentence correctly uses 'aliviar' to talk about a headache?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
alivio(relief) — Noun
aliviado(relieved) — Adjective
aliviador(soothing/reliever) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin 'alleviare', which means to lighten or make something less heavy. It comes from 'levis', the Latin word for 'light' (as in weight).

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: alleviateFrench: allégerItalian: alleviare

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'aliviar' formal?

It is neutral! You can use it with your doctor, your boss, or your best friend. It is never out of place.

What is the difference between 'aliviar' and 'calmar'?

They are very similar! 'Aliviar' specifically implies making a heavy load or a strong pain 'lighter,' while 'calmar' focuses more on making something quiet or peaceful.

Can 'aliviar' mean to give birth?

In some older or regional parts of Latin America, 'aliviarse' is a polite, traditional way to say a woman has 'delivered' her baby, but 'dar a luz' is more common today.