How to Say "to withstand" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “to withstand” is “resistir” — B1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
No pude resistir la tentación de comer el pastel.
I couldn't resist the temptation to eat the cake.
Ella resistió la presión del trabajo hasta el final del día.
She withstood the pressure of work until the end of the day.
Resistimos el frío con mantas y chocolate caliente.
We endured the cold with blankets and hot chocolate.
Direct Action
Unlike English, 'resistir' usually takes its object directly, without needing a preposition like 'to' or 'against'. (e.g., 'Resistir la tentación' not 'resistir a la tentación').
Mixing with 'Support'
Mistake: “Usar 'resistir' cuando se quiere decir 'apoyar' o 'soportar' (in the sense of supporting a structure).”
Correction: Use 'soportar' or 'aguantar' when referring to a physical object holding weight. 'Resistir' is usually about opposition or enduring difficulty.
Related Translations
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.