neutralizar
“neutralizar” means “to neutralize” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to neutralize, to counteract
Also: to cancel out
📝 In Action
El bicarbonato sirve para neutralizar la acidez del limón.
B1Baking soda is used to neutralize the acidity of the lemon.
Sus palabras lograron neutralizar la tensión en la sala.
B2His words managed to counteract the tension in the room.
La defensa del equipo neutralizó todos los ataques del rival.
C1The team's defense neutralized all of the opponent's attacks.
to disable, to eliminate
📝 In Action
La policía logró neutralizar al atacante antes de que alguien resultara herido.
C1The police managed to neutralize the attacker before anyone got hurt.
El robot fue diseñado para neutralizar explosivos.
B2The robot was designed to neutralize explosives.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "neutralizar" in Spanish:
to counteract→to disable→to eliminate→to neutralize→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: neutralizar
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence is spelled correctly in the past tense (I neutralized)?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the adjective 'neutral' (which comes from Latin 'neutralis' meaning 'of neither gender/side') plus the suffix '-izar', used to turn adjectives into verbs meaning 'to make' or 'to become'.
First recorded: 18th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'neutralizar' only used for dangerous things?
Not at all. While it's common for threats or chemicals, you can use it for anything where one thing cancels another, like sugar neutralizing a sour taste in a sauce.
Why is the spelling 'neutralicé' instead of 'neutralizé'?
Spanish spelling rules usually avoid the combination 'ze'. To keep the 's' sound before an 'e', we change the 'z' to a 'c'.
Is it a common word in daily conversation?
It is a bit formal. In casual talk, people might say 'quitar el efecto' or 'parar', but you will hear it frequently on the news or in professional settings.