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atormentar

ah-tor-men-TAR/atormenˈtar/

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

to torment

Also: to torture, to haunt
VerbB1regular ar
A small figure sitting on the ground looking distressed while a large, dark, swirling storm cloud looms directly over them.
gerundatormentando
past Participleatormentado
infinitiveatormentar

📝 In Action

El ruido constante de la construcción me atormenta.

A2

The constant construction noise torments me.

Los recuerdos de la guerra lo atormentaban cada noche.

B1

Memories of the war haunted him every night.

No es justo que te atormentes por errores del pasado.

B2

It's not fair for you to torment yourself over past mistakes.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • angustiar (to cause anguish)
  • torturar (to torture)
  • mortificar (to mortify/bother)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • atormentado por la culpa – tormented by guilt
  • atormentar a alguien con preguntas – to plague someone with questions

to plague

Also: to pester
VerbB2regular ar
A person trying to read a book while several small, buzzing flies circle their head and shoulders.
gerundatormentando
past Participleatormentado
infinitiveatormentar

📝 In Action

Los periodistas atormentaron al actor con preguntas sobre su divorcio.

B2

The journalists plagued the actor with questions about his divorce.

Deja de atormentar a tu hermano con ese juguete.

B1

Stop pestering your brother with that toy.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • acosar (to harass)
  • hostigar (to pester/harass)

Antonyms

  • ignorar (to ignore)
  • dejar en paz (to leave alone)

Common Collocations

  • atormentar a preguntas – to bombard with questions

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesatormentaran
yoatormentara
túatormentaras
vosotrosatormentarais
nosotrosatormentáramos
él/ella/ustedatormentara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesatormenten
yoatormente
túatormentes
vosotrosatormentéis
nosotrosatormentemos
él/ella/ustedatormente

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesatormentaron
yoatormenté
túatormentaste
vosotrosatormentasteis
nosotrosatormentamos
él/ella/ustedatormentó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesatormentaban
yoatormentaba
túatormentabas
vosotrosatormentabais
nosotrosatormentábamos
él/ella/ustedatormentaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesatormentan
yoatormento
túatormentas
vosotrosatormentáis
nosotrosatormentamos
él/ella/ustedatormenta
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "atormentar" in Spanish:

to haunt→to pester→to plague→to torment→to torture→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: atormentar

Question 1 of 3

If you are 'atormentado por la duda,' how do you feel?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
tormento(torment/torture) — Noun
tormenta(storm) — Noun
atormentado(tormented/troubled) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'tormentum,' which originally referred to an engine of war for throwing stones, or a device for twisting rope, eventually coming to mean 'torture' or 'instrument of pain.'

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: tormentFrench: tourmenter

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'atormentar' related to 'tormenta' (storm)?

Yes! Both come from the Latin root for 'twisting' or 'turning.' A storm is a violent 'turning' of the weather, and torment is a 'twisting' or painful struggle of the mind or body.

Can I use 'atormentar' for physical pain?

Yes, but it's more common to use it for physical pain that is long-lasting or cruel. For a quick stubbed toe, you would just say 'me duele' (it hurts).

Is it a regular verb?

Yes, 'atormentar' follows all the standard rules for verbs ending in -ar, making it very easy to conjugate!