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engordar

en-gor-DAR/eŋɡoɾˈðaɾ/

to gain weight

Also: to get fat
VerbA2regular ar
A character in a storybook style looking at their waistline as their clothes fit more tightly.
gerundengordando
past Participleengordado
infinitiveengordar

📝 In Action

He engordado tres kilos en las vacaciones.

A2

I have gained three kilos during the holidays.

Si no haces ejercicio, vas a engordar.

A1

If you don't exercise, you are going to gain weight.

Mucha gente cree que el pan engorda mucho.

B1

Many people believe that bread is very fattening.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • subir de peso (to gain weight)
  • ganar peso (to gain weight)

Antonyms

  • adelgazar (to lose weight)
  • bajar de peso (to lose weight)

Common Collocations

  • engordar fácilmente – to gain weight easily
  • miedo a engordar – fear of gaining weight

Idioms & Expressions

  • el ojo del amo engorda al caballo – things are better taken care of when the owner is watching

to fatten up

VerbB1regular ar
A happy pig eating a large pile of colorful vegetables and grain.
gerundengordando
past Participleengordado
infinitiveengordar

📝 In Action

El granjero engorda a los cerdos para el mercado.

B1

The farmer fattens up the pigs for the market.

Mi abuela siempre intenta engordarnos cuando la visitamos.

A2

My grandma always tries to fatten us up when we visit her.

Es una dieta especial para engordar al ganado.

B2

It is a special diet to fatten up the livestock.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • cebar (to fatten animals)
  • nutrir (to nourish)

Antonyms

  • adelgazar (to make thin)

Common Collocations

  • engordar el ganado – to fatten up the cattle
  • engordar al animal – to fatten the animal

to swell / increase

Also: to pad
VerbB2regular ar
A large, overflowing leather pouch filled with shiny gold coins.
gerundengordando
past Participleengordado
infinitiveengordar

📝 In Action

Ese negocio sirvió para engordar su cuenta bancaria.

B2

That business served to swell his bank account.

El autor intentó engordar el libro con capítulos innecesarios.

C1

The author tried to pad the book with unnecessary chapters.

Engordó su currículum con mentiras.

B2

He padded his resume with lies.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • reducir (to reduce)
  • mermar (to decrease)

Common Collocations

  • engordar la cuenta – to swell the bank account
  • engordar el currículum – to pad the resume
  • engordar la factura – to pad the bill

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesengordaran
yoengordara
túengordaras
vosotrosengordarais
nosotrosengordáramos
él/ella/ustedengordara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesengorden
yoengorde
túengordes
vosotrosengordéis
nosotrosengordemos
él/ella/ustedengorde

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesengordaron
yoengordé
túengordaste
vosotrosengordasteis
nosotrosengordamos
él/ella/ustedengordó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesengordaban
yoengordaba
túengordabas
vosotrosengordabais
nosotrosengordábamos
él/ella/ustedengordaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesengordan
yoengordo
túengordas
vosotrosengordáis
nosotrosengordamos
él/ella/ustedengorda
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "engordar" in Spanish:

to pad→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: engordar

Question 1 of 3

How do you say 'Bread is fattening' in Spanish?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
gordo(fat) — Adjective
gordura(fatness / grease) — Noun
engorde(fattening process) — Noun
gordito(chubby) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the prefix 'en-' (to cause to be) and the word 'gordo' (fat), which comes from the Latin 'gurdus', meaning heavy, slow, or dull.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

French: engourdir

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'engordar' offensive?

It can be. While it is a normal verb, directly telling someone 'vas a engordar' can be seen as rude. 'Subir de peso' is a more polite alternative.

Is it a regular or irregular verb?

It is a perfectly regular -ar verb. It follows the same patterns as 'hablar' or 'cantar' in all tenses.

Can I use 'engordar' for a balloon?

Not really. For a balloon, you would use 'inflar' (to inflate). 'Engordar' is mostly for weight or volume related to mass or money.