obligó
“obligó” means “forced” in Spanish (He/She/It/You (formal) forced).
forced, requiredAlso: made (someone do something)
📝 In Action
La ley lo obligó a pagar la multa inmediatamente.
A2The law forced him to pay the fine immediately.
Mi jefe me obligó a trabajar hasta tarde anoche.
B1My boss made me work late last night.
¿Quién te obligó a firmar ese contrato?
B1Who required you (formal, Usted) to sign that contract?
Word Connections
Indicative
Present
Preterite
Imperfect
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: obligó
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'obligó'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family
📚 Etymology
Comes from the Latin word *obligare*, meaning 'to bind' or 'to tie down'. The original sense was literally to tie someone to a commitment or duty.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'obligó' have an accent mark?
The accent mark on the 'ó' is necessary because it tells us the stress falls on the last syllable, which is typical for the 'él/ella/usted' form in the simple past tense (preterite). It helps you pronounce the word correctly and distinguish it from other forms.