engaña
en-GAH-nyah
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
A veces, la apariencia engaña.
A2Sometimes, appearances are deceptive (literally: appearance deceives).
Él engaña a su hermano con un truco de cartas.
B1He tricks his brother with a card trick.
No te preocupes, ella no te engaña.
B1Don't worry, she isn't cheating on you.
💡 Grammar Points
Double Meaning
This word can either describe what someone else is doing right now ('He deceives') or it can be a direct command to a friend ('Deceive!').
The 'A' Rule
When you use this word to say someone is tricking a specific person, you must put the word 'a' before that person's name or title, like: 'Él engaña a María'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Engañar vs Mentir
Mistake: "Using 'engaña' just to mean saying something false."
Correction: Use 'miente' for the act of saying a lie. Use 'engaña' for the broader act of tricking someone or being unfaithful.
⭐ Usage Tips
A Famous Phrase
Use 'Las apariencias engañan' whenever you want to say 'don't judge a book by its cover.' It's a very common Spanish proverb.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: engaña
Question 1 of 2
What is the most common meaning of 'engaña' in a statement?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'engaña' always mean cheating in a relationship?
Not always. While it can mean being unfaithful, it also broadly means tricking someone, like a magician tricks an audience or a mirage tricks the eyes.
Is 'engaña' a formal word?
It is neutral. You can use it in books, news reports, or casual conversation with friends.