reforzar
“reforzar” means “to reinforce” in Spanish (to make a structure stronger).
to reinforce, to strengthen
Also: to back up, to boost
📝 In Action
Necesitamos reforzar los muros de la casa.
A2We need to reinforce the walls of the house.
El profesor quiere reforzar los conocimientos básicos.
B1The teacher wants to strengthen basic knowledge.
La policía decidió reforzar la seguridad durante el concierto.
B2The police decided to beef up security during the concert.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: reforzar
Question 1 of 3
What is the correct 'yo' form in the present tense?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Derived from the Latin 'fortis' meaning strong, combined with the prefix 're-' implying repetition or increasing the intensity of the action.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'reforzar' and 'fortalecer'?
They are very similar. 'Reforzar' often implies adding something new to make a structure or group stronger (like adding steel or extra people), while 'fortalecer' is more general about making something strong from within.
Does it always change 'o' to 'ue'?
Not in the 'nosotros' or 'vosotros' forms (reforzamos, reforzáis), and not in the past tense (except for the subjunctive).
Can I use 'reforzar' for people's health?
Usually, we use 'fortalecer' for the body or immune system, but 'reforzar' is used for personnel (like guards or soldiers).