How to Say "restrain" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “restrain” is “controlar” — B1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
English → SpanishB1
verbB1
hold back feelings or actions
Examples
Ella se controló para no llorar delante de todos.
She restrained herself so as not to cry in front of everyone. (Used reflexively)
El boxeador controló a su oponente con facilidad.
The boxer dominated his opponent easily.
The Self-Control Verb
When you add 'se' (or me, te, nos, os) to 'controlar,' it means you are controlling your own behavior or emotions. This is called a reflexive verb.
Forgetting the 'Se'
Mistake: “Dije 'no puedo controlar' cuando estaba muy enojado.”
Correction: Dije 'no puedo controlarme' (I can't control myself). Always include the reflexive pronoun when talking about personal restraint.
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.