desempeñar
“desempeñar” means “to perform” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to perform
Also: to hold, to carry out
📝 In Action
Ella desempeña el cargo de directora con mucha eficiencia.
B1She holds the position of director very efficiently.
El actor desempeñó su papel a la perfección.
B2The actor played his role perfectly.
Es importante desempeñar nuestras tareas con cuidado.
B1It is important to carry out our tasks with care.
to redeem
Also: to recover
📝 In Action
Por fin pude desempeñar las joyas de mi abuela.
C1I was finally able to redeem my grandmother's jewelry (from the pawn shop).
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: desempeñar
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence uses 'desempeñar' to mean holding a professional position?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Spanish prefix 'des-' (meaning to undo) and 'empeñar' (to pledge or pawn), which comes from the Latin 'pignus' (pledge). Originally it meant to get something out of a pledge, evolving into fulfilling a duty or obligation.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'desempeñar' only for formal situations?
Not exclusively, but it is much more common in professional settings, news reports, or when talking about theater roles than in very casual daily chatter.
What is the difference between 'desempeño' and 'desempeñar'?
'Desempeñar' is the action (to perform), whereas 'desempeño' is the noun (performance/execution of a task).
Can I use it to mean 'to act'?
Yes, but usually in the phrase 'desempeñar un papel' (to play a role). To say 'to act' in general, you would use 'actuar'.