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How to Say "to satisfy" in Spanish

English → Spanish

satisfacer

/sa-tees-fa-SEHR//satis.faˈseɾ/

verbB1general
Use 'satisfacer' when you want to express the fulfillment of a specific need, desire, or expectation, such as hunger, thirst, or a request.
A person happily drinking a glass of water after being thirsty.

Examples

El café de la mañana me ayuda a satisfacer mi necesidad de cafeína.

The morning coffee helps me satisfy my need for caffeine.

Esta comida no logró satisfacer mi hambre.

This food didn't manage to satisfy my hunger.

Queremos satisfacer las necesidades de nuestros clientes.

We want to meet our customers' needs.

Ella leyó el libro para satisfacer su curiosidad.

She read the book to satisfy her curiosity.

The 'Hacer' Rule

This word is conjugated exactly like the common verb 'hacer' (to do/make). If you know that 'hacer' becomes 'hice' in the past, you'll know 'satisfacer' becomes 'satisfice'.

Using regular endings

Mistake: “Yo satisfací”

Correction: Yo satisfice. Because it follows the 'hacer' pattern, it uses a special 'i' spelling in the past instead of the regular 'í'.

llenar

/yeh-NAHR//ʎeˈnaɾ/

verbB1general
Use 'llenar' when referring to filling up something, often in a more abstract or emotional sense, like filling a void, a space, or a feeling.
An extremely large, fluffy cat completely occupies and fills the entire seat of a comfortable armchair.

Examples

La música clásica llena mi alma de paz.

Classical music fills my soul with peace.

La tristeza llenó su corazón después de la noticia.

Sadness filled her heart after the news.

Su voz potente llenó el teatro entero.

His powerful voice filled the entire theater.

Este pequeño trabajo me ayuda a llenar el tiempo libre.

This little job helps me fill my free time.

Emotional Use

When talking about emotions, the emotion itself is often the subject doing the filling: 'La alegría (joy) llenó mi vida.'

Satisfacer vs. Llenar

Learners often confuse 'satisfacer' and 'llenar' by using 'llenar' for direct needs like hunger. Remember that 'satisfacer' is the direct translation for fulfilling a need or desire, while 'llenar' is more about filling up a space or a feeling.

Related Translations

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