sacrificar
“sacrificar” means “to sacrifice” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to sacrifice
Also: to give up
📝 In Action
Mis padres sacrificaron mucho para que yo pudiera estudiar.
B1My parents sacrificed a lot so that I could study.
No quiero sacrificar mi tiempo libre por este trabajo.
B1I don't want to sacrifice my free time for this job.
A veces hay que sacrificar la comodidad por el éxito.
B2Sometimes you have to sacrifice comfort for success.
to put down, to slaughter
Also: to sacrifice
📝 In Action
Tuvieron que sacrificar al perro porque estaba muy enfermo.
B2They had to put the dog down because he was very sick.
Las antiguas civilizaciones sacrificaban animales a sus dioses.
B2Ancient civilizations sacrificed animals to their gods.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: sacrificar
Question 1 of 2
Which of the following is the correct 'I' form for the past tense?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From Latin 'sacrificāre', which combines 'sacer' (holy/sacred) and 'facere' (to make). Literally, it means 'to make something holy'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'sacrificar' always used for animals?
Not at all! Its most common everyday use is about people giving up their time, money, or effort for a goal (e.g., 'sacrificing' a weekend to study).
What is the difference between 'sacrificar' and 'sacrificarse'?
Use 'sacrificar' when you give something up (like your time). Use 'sacrificarse' when you are the one making the effort or doing the hard work yourself (e.g., 'I sacrificed myself for the team').