apelar
“apelar” means “to appeal” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to appeal
Also: to challenge
📝 In Action
El abogado decidió apelar la sentencia mañana.
B2The lawyer decided to appeal the sentence tomorrow.
Si no estás de acuerdo con la multa, puedes apelar.
B1If you don't agree with the fine, you can appeal.
Tienen derecho a apelar ante un tribunal superior.
C1They have the right to appeal before a higher court.
to appeal to
Also: to resort to
📝 In Action
Apeló a su sentido del deber para que terminara el trabajo.
B1He appealed to her sense of duty so she would finish the work.
Tuvimos que apelar a la fuerza para abrir la puerta.
B2We had to resort to force to open the door.
Ella apela a la caridad de la gente.
A2She appeals to people's charity.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: apelar
Question 1 of 3
If a judge gives you a fine you think is unfair, what do you do?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'appellare', which meant to address, to name, or to call upon a person.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'apelar' a regular verb?
Yes! It follows the standard pattern for all verbs ending in -ar, making it very easy to conjugate.
What is the difference between 'apelar' and 'recurrir'?
In many legal contexts, they are synonyms. However, 'apelar' is more specific to asking a higher court for a review, while 'recurrir' can be used more broadly for various types of legal challenges.
Can I use 'apelar' for phone calls?
No. For phone calls, use 'llamar'. 'Apelar' is for calling upon qualities or legal reviews.