demandar
“demandar” means “to sue” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to sue
Also: to take to court, to file a lawsuit
📝 In Action
Ella decidió demandar a la empresa por el accidente.
B1She decided to sue the company because of the accident.
Si no nos pagan, los vamos a demandar.
B1If they don't pay us, we are going to sue them.
El abogado dice que es difícil demandar sin pruebas.
B2The lawyer says it is difficult to sue without evidence.
to require
Also: to demand, to claim
📝 In Action
Este proyecto demanda mucho tiempo y esfuerzo.
B2This project requires a lot of time and effort.
El mercado demanda nuevos productos tecnológicos.
C1The market demands new technological products.
La situación demanda una respuesta inmediata.
B2The situation requires an immediate response.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: demandar
Question 1 of 3
If a neighbor breaks your window and refuses to pay, what would you do in court?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'demandare,' which originally meant 'to entrust' or 'to hand over,' eventually evolving into 'to claim' or 'to ask with authority.'
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'demandar' always mean 'to sue'?
Not always, but in everyday Spanish, it is the most common meaning. It can also mean 'to require' in formal contexts like business or science.
Can I use 'demandar' to ask for a coffee?
No! That would sound like you are taking the waiter to court. Use 'pedir' for requests or 'querer' for wants.
Is 'demandar' a false friend?
Partially. While it looks like 'demand,' the English word 'demand' is often more aggressive or informal. In Spanish, 'demandar' is mostly a formal or legal term.