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exigir

to demand

verb eh-hee-HEER Less Common
Communication Speech

Origin: From Latin exigere ('to drive out, exact').

Also means

to require

Usage Note

Exigir is stronger than pedir ('to ask for') — it implies insistence or a right: exigir una explicación ('to demand an explanation'). It has a spelling change: yo exijo (not exigeo) to preserve the 'h' sound before -o. The derived adjective exigente ('demanding') is very common in job descriptions and parenting contexts. Exigir is used with institutions and in formal complaints far more than in casual requests.

Examples

"Los trabajadores exigen mejores condiciones."

Natural Translation

The workers demand better conditions.

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