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compensar

to compensate, to make up for

verb kohm-pen-SAHR Less Common
People & Society Money

Origin: From Latin compensare (com- + pensare 'to weigh against').

Also means

to be worth it

Usage Note

Compensar is used in two main patterns: compensar a alguien ('to compensate someone' for a loss or service) and the impersonal compensar + infinitive meaning 'to be worth doing' — no compensa ir tan lejos ('it's not worth going that far'). The noun la compensación covers financial compensation and psychological offset alike.

Examples

"Nada puede compensar la pérdida de un ser querido."

Natural Translation

Nothing can make up for the loss of a loved one.

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