How to Say "to indulge" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to indulge” is “complacer” — use 'complacer' when 'to indulge' means to satisfy someone's wishes or desires, often by fulfilling their requests or conforming to their expectations..
complacer
/kom-plah-SEHR//komplaˈθeɾ/
Examples
El niño pidió un helado y sus padres, para complacerlo, se lo compraron.
The child asked for ice cream and his parents, to indulge him, bought it for him.
Siempre intenta complacer a sus padres con buenas notas.
He always tries to please his parents with good grades.
Me complace anunciar que hemos terminado el proyecto.
I am pleased to announce that we have finished the project.
No puedes complacer a todo el mundo todo el tiempo.
You can't please everyone all the time.
The 'Yo' Form Trick
This verb adds a 'z' before the 'c' only in the 'yo' form (complazco). This happens to keep the pronunciation consistent with the rest of the forms.
Using the Special Verb Form (Subjunctive)
Because this verb can be used to describe wanting someone else to do something, it often triggers a special verb form: 'Espero que este regalo te complazca' (I hope this gift pleases you).
The Missing Z
Mistake: “Yo complaco a mi jefe.”
Correction: Yo complazco a mi jefe. (Remember to add the 'z' in the first-person present form!)
consentir
/kon-sen-TEER//kon.senˈtiɾ/
Examples
No consientas tanto a tu perro, se subirá a los muebles.
Don't indulge your dog so much, he'll get on the furniture.
A los abuelos les encanta consentir a sus nietos con dulces.
Grandparents love to pamper their grandchildren with sweets.
No deberías consentir tanto al perro; se va a portar mal.
You shouldn't spoil the dog so much; he's going to misbehave.
Hoy voy a consentirme con un día de spa.
Today I am going to indulge myself with a spa day.
The Spelling Change
This verb is a 'boot verb.' The 'e' in the middle changes to 'ie' in all present tense forms EXCEPT for 'nosotros' and 'vosotros'. Think of the forms that change as being inside a boot shape on a conjugation chart!
A sneaky change in the past
Even though it's an 'ie' verb in the present, in the past (preterite), the 'e' changes to a simple 'i' only for the 'he/she/it' and 'they' forms (consintió, consintieron).
Mimar vs. Consentir
Mistake: “Using 'consentir' only for giving permission.”
Correction: In most Spanish-speaking homes, 'consentir' is the most common way to say you are spoiling someone with love or gifts.
Complacer vs. Consentir
Related Translations
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