conquistar
/kohn-kees-TAHR/
to conquer
The knight plants a flag to show he has conquered the land.
conquistar(verb)
to conquer
?taking over land or territory
to defeat
?overpowering an opponent
📝 In Action
Alejandro Magno conquistó muchos territorios.
B1Alexander the Great conquered many territories.
Es difícil conquistar un país tan grande.
B1It is difficult to conquer such a large country.
💡 Grammar Points
Standard -ar verb
This verb follows the usual rules for verbs ending in -ar. If you know how to use 'hablar', you can use 'conquistar'!
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusion with 'Ganar'
Mistake: "Using 'conquistar' for winning a simple game."
Correction: Use 'ganar' for games or prizes. 'Conquistar' is for taking over something through effort or force.
⭐ Usage Tips
Historical Context
You will see this word very often in history books regarding the Spanish Empire.
A simple gesture can win over someone's heart.
conquistar(verb)
to win over
?winning someone's heart or affection
to woo
?romancing someone
,to seduce
?attracting someone
📝 In Action
La conquistó con poemas y flores.
B1He won her over with poems and flowers.
Quiero conquistar su corazón.
A2I want to win her heart.
💡 Grammar Points
Transitive Action
This verb needs an object (the person whose heart you are winning). In Spanish, we use the 'personal a' when the object is a specific person: 'Conquistó a María'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Romantic nuance
It sounds a bit more grand and poetic than just 'liking' someone. It implies a successful effort to win them over.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: conquistar
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'conquistar' in a romantic sense?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'conquistar' only used for war?
No! While it has military origins, it's very commonly used for winning someone's love or achieving a difficult personal goal.