engañar
“engañar” means “to deceive” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to deceive, to trick, to misleadAlso: to fool
📝 In Action
El vendedor intentó engañarme con el precio.
A2The salesperson tried to deceive me with the price.
¿Me estás engañando? Creí que eras honesto.
A2Are you tricking me? I thought you were honest.
No te dejes engañar por las apariencias.
B1Don't let yourself be fooled by appearances.
to cheat on, to be unfaithful toAlso: to have an affair
📝 In Action
Ella descubrió que su esposo la estaba engañando.
B1She discovered that her husband was cheating on her.
No puedo creer que me haya engañado con mi mejor amigo.
B2I can't believe he cheated on me with my best friend.
Word Connections
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "engañar" in Spanish:
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: engañar
Question 1 of 2
Which verb should you use if you simply told a small lie about your age?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology
This word comes from the Vulgar Latin verb *inganare, which meant 'to mock' or 'to trap.' It shares roots with words that describe making sounds or trickery, suggesting the original idea was to lure someone in with false promises or words.
First recorded: Medieval Spanish (c. 13th century)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'engañar' always negative?
Almost always. While you might 'engañar' someone as part of a harmless joke or prank ('una broma'), the word carries a strong connotation of intentional deception, which is generally viewed negatively.
How is 'engañarse' different from 'engañar'?
'Engañar' means to deceive someone else. 'Engañarse' is the reflexive form, meaning to deceive yourself or to be fooled by your own thoughts: 'No te engañes, sabes la verdad' (Don't fool yourself, you know the truth).