halagar
“halagar” means “to flatter” in Spanish (to praise someone's vanity or qualities).
to flatter
Also: to compliment, to be gratifying
📝 In Action
No me digas eso solo para halagarme.
B1Don't tell me that just to flatter me.
Me halaga mucho que hayas venido a mi fiesta.
B2It flatters me a lot that you came to my party.
El director halagó el gran trabajo del equipo.
C1The director praised the team's great work.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: halagar
Question 1 of 3
How do you say 'I flattered' (past tense) in Spanish?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Arabic word 'halaqa', meaning to soften or smooth. It entered Spanish as a way to describe 'smoothing' someone over with kind words.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'halagar' always a positive thing?
Usually, yes. It means to compliment or honor. However, if used sarcastically, it can imply that someone is just 'sucking up'.
Does the 'h' in 'halagar' make a sound?
No, like almost all 'h's in Spanish, it is completely silent. You start the sound at the 'a'.
Can I use 'halagar' for praising God?
It's better to use 'alabar' or 'glorificar' for religious praise. 'Halagar' is mostly for human ego and vanity.