inmovilizar
“inmovilizar” means “to immobilize” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to immobilize
Also: to pin down, to splint
📝 In Action
El paramédico tuvo que inmovilizar mi cuello después del accidente.
A2The paramedic had to immobilize my neck after the accident.
La policía logró inmovilizar al sospechoso rápidamente.
B1The police managed to pin down the suspect quickly.
Es importante inmovilizar la zona afectada para evitar más dolor.
B1It is important to keep the affected area still to avoid more pain.
to freeze
Also: to tie up
📝 In Action
El juez ordenó inmovilizar los fondos de la empresa.
B2The judge ordered the freezing of the company's funds.
No es buena idea inmovilizar todo tu dinero en una sola inversión.
C1It is not a good idea to tie up all your money in a single investment.
El gobierno decidió inmovilizar las cuentas bancarias de los sospechosos.
B2The government decided to freeze the bank accounts of the suspects.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: inmovilizar
Question 1 of 3
How do you say 'I immobilized' (past tense) in Spanish?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Derived from the Latin 'immobilis' (still/not moving), combined with the Spanish suffix '-izar' (to cause to be).
First recorded: 19th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'parar' and 'inmovilizar'?
'Parar' means to stop something that is moving. 'Inmovilizar' means to make it so something *cannot* move, often by tying it down or using a medical splint.
Is it 'inmovilicé' or 'inmovilizé'?
It is always 'inmovilicé'. In Spanish, the combination 'ze' is almost always replaced with 'ce' while keeping the same soft sound.
Can I use this for people?
Yes, but it sounds physical. You might 'inmovilizar' a patient for surgery or 'inmovilizar' a criminal to arrest them.

