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empeño

em-PEN-yo/emˈpeɲo/

determination

Also: earnest effort, insistence
NounmB1
A small ant pushing a large leaf up a steep hill.

📝 In Action

Ella puso mucho empeño en aprender español.

A2

She put a lot of effort into learning Spanish.

Logró su objetivo gracias a su empeño constante.

B1

He achieved his goal thanks to his constant determination.

Admiro el empeño con el que trabajas todos los días.

B2

I admire the dedication with which you work every day.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • esfuerzo (effort)
  • dedicación (dedication)
  • tenacidad (tenacity)

Antonyms

  • desinterés (lack of interest)
  • abandono (neglect)

Common Collocations

  • poner empeño – to put in effort
  • con empeño – with determination
  • gran empeño – great dedication

pawn

Also: pledge
NounmB2
Mexico
A gold watch sitting on a velvet cushion inside a wooden box.

📝 In Action

Tuve que dejar mi reloj en empeño para pagar la renta.

B2

I had to leave my watch in pawn to pay the rent.

La casa de empeño está a la vuelta de la esquina.

A2

The pawn shop is around the corner.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • garantía (guarantee/collateral)
  • prenda (security/pledge)

Antonyms

  • desempeño (redemption/reclaiming)

Common Collocations

  • casa de empeño – pawn shop
  • dejar en empeño – to pawn

Idioms & Expressions

  • empeñar la palabra – To give one's word or make a solemn promise.

I pawn

Also: I insist
VerbB2regular ar
A person handing a gold ring to a clerk over a wooden counter.
gerundempeñando
past Participleempeñado
infinitiveempeñar

📝 In Action

Yo siempre empeño mis joyas en el mismo lugar.

B1

I always pawn my jewelry in the same place.

Me empeño en terminar este libro hoy mismo.

B2

I am determined to finish this book this very day.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • hipotecar (to mortgage)
  • insistir (to insist)

Antonyms

  • desempeñar (to reclaim/redeem)

Common Collocations

  • empeñar mi palabra – to give my word

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesempeñaran
yoempeñara
túempeñaras
vosotrosempeñarais
nosotrosempeñáramos
él/ella/ustedempeñara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesempeñen
yoempeñe
túempeñes
vosotrosempeñéis
nosotrosempeñemos
él/ella/ustedempeñe

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesempeñaron
yoempeñé
túempeñaste
vosotrosempeñasteis
nosotrosempeñamos
él/ella/ustedempeñó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesempeñaban
yoempeñaba
túempeñabas
vosotrosempeñabais
nosotrosempeñábamos
él/ella/ustedempeñaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesempeñan
yoempeño
túempeñas
vosotrosempeñáis
nosotrosempeñamos
él/ella/ustedempeña
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "empeño" in Spanish:

earnest effort→i pawn→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: empeño

Question 1 of 3

If you are working with 'mucho empeño', how are you working?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
empeñar(to pawn / to insist) — Verb
empeñado(determined / pawned) — Adjective
desempeñar(to perform / to redeem) — Verb
desempeño(performance) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
sueñopequeñodueñorisueño
📚 Etymology▼

Derived from the Latin word 'pignus' (meaning pledge or security). In Old Spanish, 'empeñar' meant to give something as a security for a loan. Over time, the idea of 'pledging oneself' to a task led to the meaning of determination and effort.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: empenho

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'empeño' the same as 'esfuerzo'?

They are close! 'Esfuerzo' is the energy or work you exert. 'Empeño' is the persistent desire and determination to see something through.

Can 'empeño' mean a job?

No, that is a common mistake. 'Empleo' is the word for job or employment.

How do you say 'to pawn' as an action?

You use the verb 'empeñar'. For example: 'Quiero empeñar mi anillo' (I want to pawn my ring).