aprieta
“aprieta” means “press” in Spanish. It has 4 different meanings depending on context:
press, squeeze
Also: tighten
📝 In Action
Aprieta el botón para llamar al ascensor.
A1Press the button to call the elevator.
Ella me aprieta la mano cuando tiene miedo.
A1She squeezes my hand when she is afraid.
to be too tight, to pinch
📝 In Action
Este zapato me aprieta mucho en el talón.
A2This shoe pinches my heel a lot.
Los pantalones le aprietan después de la cena.
A2His pants are too tight on him after dinner.
to pressure, to urge
📝 In Action
Mi jefe me aprieta para que termine el proyecto hoy.
B1My boss is pressuring me to finish the project today.
to get intense, to worsen
📝 In Action
En agosto el calor aprieta de verdad.
B2In August, the heat really gets intense.
La crisis económica aprieta a las familias.
B2The economic crisis is hitting families hard.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "aprieta" in Spanish:
press→squeeze→tighten→to pinch→to pressure→to urge→to worsen→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: aprieta
Question 1 of 2
Which of the following describes shoes that are too small?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'appectorare', which means 'to bring to the chest' (ad + pectus). It originally described holding something tightly against your body.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is it 'apreta' or 'aprieta'?
It depends on the form! For 'he/she/it' or 'you (informal command)', it is 'aprieta'. The 'ie' spelling only appears when that part of the word is stressed. For 'we', it stays 'apretamos'.
Can I use 'aprieta' for a handshake?
Not exactly as 'aprieta'. You would say 'dar un apretón de manos' (to give a squeeze of hands).