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pesar

peh-SAHR/peˈsaɾ/

to weigh

Also: to be heavy
VerbA2regular ar
A brightly colored balance scale with a large red apple sitting on one pan, balanced perfectly against a hidden weight on the other side.
infinitivepesar
gerundpesando
past Participlepesado

📝 In Action

¿Cuánto pesa esta caja?

A2

How much does this box weigh?

Mi maleta pesa demasiado para el vuelo.

B1

My suitcase weighs too much for the flight.

El bebé pesó tres kilos al nacer.

A2

The baby weighed three kilograms at birth.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • medir (to measure)

Common Collocations

  • pesar en la balanza – to weigh on the scales

to regret, to weigh on one's mind

Also: to grieve
VerbB1regular ar
A small, unhappy cartoon character sitting on the ground next to a puddle of spilled milk, holding their head in their hands, depicting regret.
infinitivepesar
gerundpesando
past Participlepesado

📝 In Action

Me pesa no haber ido a la universidad.

B1

I regret not having gone to university. (Literally: It weighs on me...)

A ella le pesa mucho la muerte de su abuela.

B2

Her grandmother's death weighs heavily on her.

Aunque es una decisión difícil, no me pesa.

B2

Although it is a difficult decision, I don't regret it.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • lamentar (to regret)
  • afligir (to distress)

Idioms & Expressions

  • A quien le pese – Like it or not (used to express defiance)

sorrow, regret

Also: grief
NounmC1formal
A solitary cartoon character standing under a small, dark rain cloud that is lightly dripping water, symbolizing deep sadness.

📝 In Action

Su rostro reflejaba un gran pesar.

C1

His face reflected great sorrow.

Fue con mucho pesar que aceptaron la derrota.

C1

It was with great regret that they accepted the defeat.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • alegría (joy)

Common Collocations

  • a pesar de – in spite of / despite
  • quitar un pesar – to take away a worry/grief

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedpesa
yopeso
túpesas
ellos/ellas/ustedespesan
nosotrospesamos
vosotrospesáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedpesaba
yopesaba
túpesabas
ellos/ellas/ustedespesaban
nosotrospesábamos
vosotrospesabais

preterite

él/ella/ustedpesó
yopesé
túpesaste
ellos/ellas/ustedespesaron
nosotrospesamos
vosotrospesasteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedpese
yopese
túpeses
ellos/ellas/ustedespesen
nosotrospesemos
vosotrospeséis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedpesara
yopesara
túpesaras
ellos/ellas/ustedespesaran
nosotrospesáramos
vosotrospesarais
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "pesar" in Spanish:

grief→regret→sorrow→to grieve→to regret→to weigh→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: pesar

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'pesar' in the sense of measurement?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
pesado(heavy, annoying) — Adjective
peso(weight, currency) — Noun
balanza(scale (for weighing)) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin verb *pensāre*, which originally meant 'to weigh' or 'to examine carefully.' This perfectly explains the two core Spanish meanings: physical weighing and mental examination/regret.

First recorded: Around the 10th-11th century in written Spanish.

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: pesarItalian: pensare

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Frequently Asked Questions

How is 'pesar' different from the common phrase 'a pesar de'?

The phrase 'a pesar de' (meaning 'despite' or 'in spite of') uses the noun form of 'pesar' but acts as a fixed prepositional unit. While related, you should learn 'a pesar de' as its own unit, separate from the verb 'pesar' (to weigh/to regret).

Does 'pesar' change its meaning if I use it with the indirect object pronouns (me, te, le)?

Yes. When used impersonally with pronouns (like 'Me pesa'), the meaning switches from physical measurement ('I weigh') to emotional regret or burden ('It weighs on me / I regret').