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empeñar

to pawn

verb em-peh-NYAHR Rare

Also means

to pledge; to insist

Usage Note

Empeñar has two main uses: literally, to pawn an object at a casa de empeños (pawn shop), and figuratively in the reflexive empeñarse en meaning 'to insist on' or 'to be set on doing something.' Se empeña en tener razón means 'he insists on being right.' The past participle empeñado also describes someone deep in debt.

Examples

"Empeñó su reloj para pagar la deuda."

Natural Translation

He pawned his watch to pay the debt.

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