Inklingo
← Dictionary

empeñado

em-pen-YAH-dohempeˈɲado

determined

Also: insistent, hell-bent
A small bird flying directly through a heavy rainstorm with a focused expression.

📝 In Action

Juan está empeñado en aprender japonés este año.

A2

Juan is determined to learn Japanese this year.

Sigue empeñada en que yo tengo la culpa, pero no es cierto.

B1

She is still insistent that I am to blame, but it's not true.

El gobierno está empeñado en bajar los impuestos.

B2

The government is hell-bent on lowering taxes.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • estar empeñado en – to be determined to
  • seguir empeñado – to remain determined

Idioms & Expressions

  • empeñado hasta las cejas – To be deeply in debt (though this uses the 'pawned' meaning, it fits the adjective form)

pawned

Also: pledged
A gold pocket watch sitting on a velvet cushion inside a wooden display case.

📝 In Action

Tengo el reloj empeñado porque necesitaba dinero rápido.

B1

I have the watch pawned because I needed quick money.

Recuperó sus joyas empeñadas después de pagar el préstamo.

B2

She recovered her pawned jewelry after paying off the loan.

Mi palabra está empeñada en este trato.

C1

My word is pledged in this deal.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • pignorado (pledged (legal term))

Antonyms

  • desempeñado (redeemed/unpawned)

Common Collocations

  • tener algo empeñado – to have something pawned
  • palabra empeñada – pledged word/promise

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "empeñado" in Spanish:

hell-bent→insistent→pawned→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: empeñado

Question 1 of 3

Which sentence correctly uses 'empeñado' to mean determined?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
empeñar(to pawn or to insist) — Verb
empeño(effort or a pledge) — Noun
desempeñar(to perform a role or to redeem a pawned item) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
enseñadoacompañadosoñado
📚 Etymology▼

Derived from the Latin word 'pignus', which means a pledge or security for a debt. The 'en-' prefix was added in Spanish to describe the act of putting something 'into' a pledge.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: empenhadoEnglish: impawn

💡 Master Spanish

Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'empeñado' the same as 'cabezón'?

Close! 'Cabezón' is more slang for 'stubborn' or 'big-headed.' 'Empeñado' focuses more on the fact that the person has a specific goal they won't give up on.

Can I use 'empeñado' for a girl?

Yes, just change the final 'o' to an 'a': 'Ella está muy empeñada'.

How do I say 'I pawned my phone'?

You would use the verb form: 'Empeñé mi teléfono'. If you want to use 'empeñado', you'd say: 'Tengo mi teléfono empeñado'.