exige
“exige” means “he/she/it demands” in Spanish (when someone insists on having something).
he/she/it demands, requires
Also: insists on, calls for
📝 In Action
Mi jefe exige puntualidad todos los días.
A2My boss demands punctuality every day.
Este deporte exige mucho esfuerzo físico.
B1This sport requires a lot of physical effort.
¡Exige tus derechos!
B1Demand your rights!
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: exige
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'exige' to mean 'requires'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'exigere', which meant 'to drive out' or 'to exact/enforce'. It's built from 'ex-' (out) and 'agere' (to drive/do).
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'exige' always sound aggressive?
Not necessarily! While it is strong, it can also simply mean that a situation requires something, like 'this recipe requires time' (esta receta exige tiempo), which isn't aggressive at all.
Is 'exige' used for commands?
Yes, it can be the 'tú' command. If you tell a friend '¡Exige lo que es tuyo!', you are telling them 'Demand what is yours!'