Inklingo

librar

lee-BRARliˈβɾaɾ

librar means to free or save in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

to free or saveAlso: to escape, to have a day off

VerbB1regular ar
Spain
A bird flying out of an open golden cage into a bright blue sky.
gerundlibrando
past Participlelibrado
infinitivelibrar

📝 In Action

El cinturón de seguridad le libró de una muerte segura.

B1

The seatbelt saved him from certain death.

Hoy libro, así que podemos ir a la playa.

A2

I have today off, so we can go to the beach.

Te has librado por los pelos de limpiar la cocina.

B2

You narrowly escaped having to clean the kitchen.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • atrapar (to trap)
  • condenar (to condemn)

Common Collocations

  • librar deto free from
  • librarse del castigoto escape punishment

Idioms & Expressions

  • ¡De buena nos hemos librado!That was a close call!

to wage / to fight

VerbB2regular arformal
Two brave knights in shining armor holding shields and facing a large green dragon.
gerundlibrando
past Participlelibrado
infinitivelibrar

📝 In Action

Ambos ejércitos libraron una batalla sangrienta.

B2

Both armies fought a bloody battle.

Estamos librando una guerra contra la inflación.

C1

We are waging a war against inflation.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • librar una batallato fight a battle
  • librar un combateto engage in combat

Subjunctive

Imperfect Subjunctive

yolibrara
libraras
él/ella/ustedlibrara
nosotroslibráramos
vosotroslibrarais
ellos/ellas/ustedeslibraran

Present Subjunctive

yolibre
libres
él/ella/ustedlibre
nosotroslibremos
vosotroslibréis
ellos/ellas/ustedeslibren

Indicative

Preterite

yolibré
libraste
él/ella/ustedlibró
nosotroslibramos
vosotroslibrasteis
ellos/ellas/ustedeslibraron

Imperfect

yolibraba
librabas
él/ella/ustedlibraba
nosotroslibrábamos
vosotroslibrabais
ellos/ellas/ustedeslibraban

Present

yolibro
libras
él/ella/ustedlibra
nosotroslibramos
vosotroslibráis
ellos/ellas/ustedeslibran

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "librar" in Spanish:

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: librar

Question 1 of 3

If someone says 'Mañana libro', what do they mean?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology

From the Latin 'liberare', meaning 'to set free' or 'to release'.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: liberateFrench: livrer

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'librar' and 'liberar'?

'Liberar' is for physically setting someone free (like a prisoner). 'Librar' is more about saving someone from a problem or having a day off work.

Is 'librar' used the same in Mexico and Spain?

While the 'to save' meaning is universal, using 'librar' to mean 'to have a day off' is much more common in Spain than in Mexico.

Can 'librar' mean 'to deliver'?

In very formal or old-fashioned legal contexts, it can mean 'to issue' (like a check), but you shouldn't use it to mean 'delivering a package'—for that, use 'entregar'.