alentar

to encourage

verb ah-lehn-TAHR Rare

Origin: From a- + lento (breath), from Latin halitus ('breath').

Also means

to breathe

Usage Note

Alentar is an e→ie stem-changing verb: aliento, alientas, alienta… (note aliento also means 'breath'). The primary modern sense is 'to encourage or spur on' (alentar a alguien a seguir = 'to encourage someone to keep going'); the literal sense of breathing is archaic and rare. It is a closer synonym of animar and estimular than of apoyar (which means 'to support').

Examples

"El entrenador alentó a sus jugadores antes del partido."

Natural Translation

The coach encouraged his players before the match.

Related Words

Explore Spanish by topic

SpanishNow

How to Introduce Yourself in Spanish: 12 Real Phrases

Introduce yourself in Spanish with 12 ready-to-speak phrases — name, origin, age, and job — in both tú and usted, with the verb traps that trip up beginners.

June 9, 2026 5 min read

SpanishNow

Spanish False Friends That Cause Real Embarrassment

Spanish false friends like embarazada and excitado don't mean what you think. Learn the trap words, the right ones to say instead, and how to stop guessing.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Tener in Spanish: Why You're Hungry, Cold & 30 Years

In Spanish you HAVE hunger, cold, and 30 years — not are them. Master tener expressions like tengo hambre, tengo frío, and tengo 30 años in one rule.

June 9, 2026 5 min read

SpanishNow

Spanish Accent Marks: 3 Rules for Every Word

A Spanish word needs an accent mark in just three cases: it breaks the default stress, it's a homophone, or a weak vowel splits off. Here are all three rules.

June 3, 2026 6 min read