recompensar
“recompensar” means “to reward” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to reward
Also: to repay
📝 In Action
La empresa quiere recompensar tu esfuerzo con un bono.
B1The company wants to reward your effort with a bonus.
Algún día, la vida te recompensará por tu bondad.
B1Someday, life will reward you for your kindness.
No sé cómo recompensarte por todo lo que has hecho.
B2I don't know how to repay you for everything you've done.
to compensate
Also: to offset
📝 In Action
Sus ganas de aprender recompensan su falta de experiencia.
C1His desire to learn makes up for his lack of experience.
Nada puede recompensar el tiempo que pasé lejos de mi familia.
C1Nothing can compensate for the time I spent away from my family.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: recompensar
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence correctly uses the personal 'a' with recompensar?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From Latin 'recompensāre', which combines 're-' (back/again) and 'compensāre' (to weigh together or balance). It essentially means to give something back to bring things into balance.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'recompensar' only used for money?
No! While it can involve money (like a bonus), it is often used for emotional rewards, gratitude, or life's natural consequences for good behavior.
What is the difference between 'premiar' and 'recompensar'?
'Premiar' is usually used for winning a competition or an official award. 'Recompensar' is more about giving something back in exchange for effort or a specific action.
Is it a regular verb?
Yes, it follows the standard pattern for all verbs ending in -ar, making it quite easy to conjugate!