protestar
“protestar” means “to complain” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to complain
Also: to object
📝 In Action
El niño empezó a protestar porque no quería irse a la cama.
A2The boy started to complain because he didn't want to go to bed.
No sirve de nada protestar; la decisión ya está tomada.
B1It's no use objecting; the decision has already been made.
Los vecinos protestan por el ruido de la construcción.
B1The neighbors are complaining about the construction noise.
to protest
📝 In Action
Miles de personas salieron a la calle para protestar contra la nueva ley.
B1Thousands of people took to the streets to protest against the new law.
Los estudiantes protestan pacíficamente en la plaza.
B1The students are protesting peacefully in the square.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: protestar
Question 1 of 3
How do you say 'I protest against the injustice' in Spanish?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin 'protestari', meaning 'to declare publicly' or 'to bear witness'. It combines 'pro-' (forth) and 'testari' (to witness).
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'protestar' always political?
No! You can use it when a child 'protests' because they don't want to eat vegetables, or when you object to a bill at a restaurant.
What is the difference between 'protestar' and 'manifestarse'?
'Protestar' is the act of speaking out against something. 'Manifestarse' specifically refers to the physical act of joining a group or march in the street.
Can I use 'protestar' for a physical pain?
Usually no. For physical pain, it is much more common to use 'doler' (to hurt) or 'quejarse' (to complain).