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apostar

ah-pohs-TAHRa.posˈtaɾ

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

to bet

Also: to wager
VerbA2irregular (stem-changing) ar
Mexico
Two cartoon hands exchanging a stack of colorful betting chips over a green felt table, illustrating the act of placing a wager.
infinitiveapostar
gerundapostando
past Participleapostado

📝 In Action

Apuesto diez euros a que mañana llueve.

A2

I bet ten euros that it will rain tomorrow.

¿Cuánto quieres apostar en el partido de fútbol?

A2

How much do you want to bet on the soccer game?

No apuestes todo tu dinero, es muy arriesgado.

B1

Don't bet all your money, it's very risky.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • apostar dinero – to bet money
  • apostar a un caballo – to bet on a horse

Idioms & Expressions

  • apostar fuerte – to take a big risk or bet a large amount

to commit to, to champion

Also: to advocate for
VerbB2irregular (stem-changing) arformal
A cheerful, determined character firmly planting a large, bright flag into solid ground, symbolizing a strong commitment to an idea.
infinitiveapostar
gerundapostando
past Participleapostado

📝 In Action

La empresa apuesta por la energía renovable a largo plazo.

B2

The company is committed to renewable energy in the long term.

El nuevo director siempre apuesta por la innovación.

C1

The new director always champions innovation.

Apostamos por un futuro más justo para todos.

B2

We advocate for (or commit to) a fairer future for everyone.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • comprometerse (to commit)
  • defender (to defend)

Common Collocations

  • apostar por la educación – to prioritize/commit to education
  • apostar por el talento – to back talent

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedapuesta
yoapuesto
túapuestas
ellos/ellas/ustedesapuestan
nosotrosapostamos
vosotrosapostáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedapostaba
yoapostaba
túapostabas
ellos/ellas/ustedesapostaban
nosotrosapostábamos
vosotrosapostabais

preterite

él/ella/ustedapostó
yoaposté
túapostaste
ellos/ellas/ustedesapostaron
nosotrosapostamos
vosotrosapostasteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedapueste
yoapueste
túapuestes
ellos/ellas/ustedesapuesten
nosotrosapostemos
vosotrosapostéis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedapostara/apostase
yoapostara/apostase
túapostaras/apostases
ellos/ellas/ustedesapostaran/apostasen
nosotrosapostáramos/apostásemos
vosotrosapostarais/apostaseis
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "apostar" in Spanish:

to bet→to champion→to wager→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: apostar

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'apostar' in the sense of 'to champion or commit to an idea'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
apuesta(bet, wager) — Noun
apostador(gambler, bettor) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin verb *appositare*, meaning 'to place or put near.' In Spanish, this evolved to mean 'to place something (a wager) on an outcome.'

First recorded: Medieval Spanish

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: apostarCatalan: apostar

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'apostar' a regular verb?

No, it is an irregular verb. In the present tense, the 'o' changes to 'ue' in most forms (like 'yo apuesto'), but it stays regular in the 'nosotros' and 'vosotros' forms ('nosotros apostamos').

What is the difference between 'apostar a' and 'apostar por'?

'Apostar a' is generally used for literal betting (I bet on the result). 'Apostar por' is used figuratively to mean supporting or committing to a cause, strategy, or idea (We support new technology).