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animar

ah-nee-MAHR/aniˈmaɾ/

to encourage, to cheer up

Also: to root for
VerbA2regular ar
A kind teacher smiling and giving a thumbs up to a small child who is about to climb a slide.
gerundanimando
past Participleanimado
infinitiveanimar

📝 In Action

Mis padres me animan a estudiar lo que me gusta.

A2

My parents encourage me to study what I like.

Fuimos al estadio para animar a nuestro equipo.

B1

We went to the stadium to cheer for our team.

Traté de animarla con un chiste, pero no funcionó.

B2

I tried to cheer her up with a joke, but it didn't work.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • desanimar (to discourage)
  • deprimir (to depress)

Common Collocations

  • animar a alguien a hacer algo – to encourage someone to do something
  • animar el ambiente – to liven up the atmosphere

to liven up

Also: to animate
VerbB1regular ar
A group of colorful characters dancing and throwing confetti at a vibrant party with balloons.
gerundanimando
past Participleanimado
infinitiveanimar

📝 In Action

Necesitamos buena música para animar la fiesta.

B1

We need good music to liven up the party.

Unas flores animarían mucho esta habitación gris.

B1

Some flowers would really brighten up this gray room.

Walt Disney fue uno de los primeros en animar dibujos.

C1

Walt Disney was one of the first to animate drawings.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • alegrar (to brighten)
  • vivificar (to give life to)

Common Collocations

  • animar la fiesta – to liven up the party

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesanimaran
yoanimara
túanimaras
vosotrosanimarais
nosotrosanimáramos
él/ella/ustedanimara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesanimen
yoanime
túanimes
vosotrosaniméis
nosotrosanimemos
él/ella/ustedanime

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesanimaron
yoanimé
túanimaste
vosotrosanimasteis
nosotrosanimamos
él/ella/ustedanimó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesanimaban
yoanimaba
túanimabas
vosotrosanimabais
nosotrosanimábamos
él/ella/ustedanimaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesaniman
yoanimo
túanimas
vosotrosanimáis
nosotrosanimamos
él/ella/ustedanima
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "animar" in Spanish:

to animate→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: animar

Question 1 of 3

How would you say 'I encourage my friend' in Spanish?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
ánimo(mood / spirit) — Noun
animado(excited / animated) — Adjective
animación(animation) — Noun
desanimar(to discourage) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'animare', which means 'to give life to' or 'to breathe life into'. This comes from 'anima', meaning soul or breath.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: animateFrench: animerItalian: animare

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'animar' and 'alentar'?

Is 'animar' always regular?

Can 'animar' mean 'to decide'?