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halagar

ah-lah-GAR/alaˈɡaɾ/

“halagar” means “to flatter” in Spanish (to praise someone's vanity or qualities).

to flatter

Also: to compliment, to be gratifying
VerbB2spelling change ar
A friendly person offering a beautiful bouquet of flowers to another person who looks happy and proud.
gerundhalagando
past Participlehalagado
infinitivehalagar

📝 In Action

No me digas eso solo para halagarme.

B1

Don't tell me that just to flatter me.

Me halaga mucho que hayas venido a mi fiesta.

B2

It flatters me a lot that you came to my party.

El director halagó el gran trabajo del equipo.

C1

The director praised the team's great work.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • elogiar (to praise)
  • adular (to fawn over/suck up)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • sentirse halagado – to feel flattered
  • halagar el oído – to say what someone wants to hear

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedeshalagaran
yohalagara
túhalagaras
vosotroshalagarais
nosotroshalagáramos
él/ella/ustedhalagara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedeshalaguen
yohalague
túhalagues
vosotroshalaguéis
nosotroshalaguemos
él/ella/ustedhalague

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedeshalagaron
yohalagué
túhalagaste
vosotroshalagasteis
nosotroshalagamos
él/ella/ustedhalagó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedeshalagaban
yohalagaba
túhalagabas
vosotroshalagabais
nosotroshalagábamos
él/ella/ustedhalagaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedeshalagan
yohalago
túhalagas
vosotroshalagáis
nosotroshalagamos
él/ella/ustedhalaga
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "halagar" in Spanish:

to compliment→to flatter→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: halagar

Question 1 of 3

How do you say 'I flattered' (past tense) in Spanish?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
halago(flattery/compliment) — Noun
halagador(flattering) — Adjective
halagüeño(promising/attractive) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 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)

Portuguese: afagar

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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.