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oprimir

oh-pree-MEER/o.pɾiˈmiɾ/

to press

Also: to squeeze
VerbB1regular ir
A close-up of a human finger pressing down on a large, bright red round button.
gerundoprimiendo
past Participleoprimido
infinitiveoprimir

📝 In Action

Oprime el botón verde para comenzar.

A2

Press the green button to start.

Tienes que oprimir la tecla 'Enter' dos veces.

B1

You have to press the 'Enter' key twice.

El médico oprimió mi abdomen para ver si me dolía.

B2

The doctor pressed my abdomen to see if it hurt.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • oprimir un botón – to press a button
  • oprimir una tecla – to press a key

to oppress

Also: to subdue
VerbB2regular irformal
A large, heavy iron boot hovering over a group of tiny, colorful stylized people looking worried.
gerundoprimiendo
past Participleoprimido
infinitiveoprimir

📝 In Action

El gobierno oprime a la oposición.

B2

The government oppresses the opposition.

Nadie tiene derecho a oprimir a otro ser humano.

B2

Nobody has the right to oppress another human being.

La pobreza oprime a muchas familias en esta región.

C1

Poverty weighs down many families in this region.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • tiranizar (to tyrannize)
  • subyugar (to subjugate)

Antonyms

  • liberar (to liberate)
  • emancipar (to emancipate)

Common Collocations

  • pueblo oprimido – oppressed people
  • oprimir a las masas – to oppress the masses

to weigh on

Also: to tighten
VerbC1regular irformal
A small, sad blue bird sitting on a branch with a large, heavy grey stone resting on its back.
gerundoprimiendo
past Participleoprimido
infinitiveoprimir

📝 In Action

Siento que una gran tristeza me oprime el corazón.

C1

I feel a great sadness weighing on my heart.

La angustia le oprimía el pecho y no podía respirar.

C1

Anguish was tightening her chest and she couldn't breathe.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • angustiar (to distress)
  • agobiar (to overwhelm)

Common Collocations

  • oprimir el pecho – to feel tightness in the chest
  • oprimir el alma – to weigh on the soul

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesoprimieran
yooprimiera
túoprimieras
vosotrosoprimierais
nosotrosoprimiéramos
él/ella/ustedoprimiera

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesopriman
yooprima
túoprimas
vosotrosoprimáis
nosotrosoprimamos
él/ella/ustedoprima

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesoprimieron
yooprimí
túoprimiste
vosotrosoprimisteis
nosotrosoprimimos
él/ella/ustedoprimió

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesoprimían
yooprimía
túoprimías
vosotrosoprimíais
nosotrosoprimíamos
él/ella/ustedoprimía

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesoprimen
yooprimo
túoprimes
vosotrosoprimís
nosotrosoprimimos
él/ella/ustedoprime
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "oprimir" in Spanish:

to oppress→to press→to squeeze→to subdue→to tighten→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: oprimir

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence describes a physical action with a machine?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
opresión(oppression) — Noun
opresor(oppressor) — Noun
oprimido(oppressed) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From Latin 'opprimere', which combines 'ob' (against) and 'premere' (to press). It literally meant to press down against something with force.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: oppressFrench: opprimer

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'oprimir' the same as 'apretar'?

They are very close! 'Apretar' is more common for squeezing things (like shoes that are too tight) or hugging, while 'oprimir' is more common for buttons or political oppression.

Can I use 'oprimir' for printing a paper?

No, that's a common mistake. Use 'imprimir' for documents.

Is it a regular verb?

Yes! It follows the standard pattern for verbs ending in -ir.