desahogar
“desahogar” means “to vent” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to vent
Also: to get something off one's chest, to pour out
📝 In Action
A veces solo necesito hablar con alguien para desahogarme.
B1Sometimes I just need to talk to someone to vent.
Ella desahogó toda su tristeza en esa carta.
B2She poured out all her sadness in that letter.
Llorar un poco te ayudará a desahogar el dolor.
B1Crying a little will help you release the pain.
to ease
Also: to clear, to relieve
📝 In Action
Este dinero extra nos ayudará a desahogar las cuentas un poco.
B2This extra money will help us ease our bills a bit.
Necesitamos desahogar el tráfico en la avenida principal.
C1We need to clear the traffic on the main avenue.
Mañana tendré tiempo porque se ha desahogado mi agenda.
B2I'll have time tomorrow because my schedule has cleared up.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: desahogar
Question 1 of 3
If you are very sad and need to tell your best friend everything, you need to:
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Formed by combining the prefix 'des-' (which means to undo or reverse) with the verb 'ahogar' (to drown or suffocate). Literally, it means to 'stop someone from suffocating'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'desahogar' always about crying?
Not necessarily! While it often implies crying because that's a way to release pain, it can also mean simply talking honestly about your frustrations or even clearing a busy schedule.
What's the difference between 'desahogar' and 'desahogarse'?
Use 'desahogar' when you are relieving something else (like your bills or traffic). Use 'desahogarse' (with the 'se') when you are the one getting emotional relief.
Can I use this for physical objects?
Yes! You can 'desahogar' a room by removing furniture, or 'desahogar' a pipe if it is clogged, though 'desatascar' is more common for pipes.