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obligar

to oblige, to force

verb oh-blee-GAHR Less Common

Usage Note

Obligar takes the preposition a before an infinitive: me obligó a firmar (he forced me to sign). The reflexive obligarse a means to commit oneself to doing something. Distinguish from deber, which expresses moral duty rather than external compulsion.

Examples

"La ley obliga a todos a pagar impuestos."

Natural Translation

The law obliges everyone to pay taxes.

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