primar

to take priority

verb pree-MAHR Rare

Also means

to prevail

Usage Note

Primar means to take precedence or be given priority: la seguridad prima sobre la velocidad ('safety takes priority over speed'). It also means to give a bonus or premium (primar la producción). Do not confuse with primero (ordinal adjective) — primar is strictly a verb. It is a common verb in formal and journalistic Spanish.

Examples

"En este proyecto prima la calidad sobre el coste."

Natural Translation

In this project, quality takes priority over cost.

Literal Translation

In this project prevails the quality over the cost.

Free starter pack

Building your Spanish vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common Spanish words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore Spanish by topic

SpanishNow

You're Welcome in Spanish: Beyond De Nada

You're welcome in Spanish is more than de nada. Learn con gusto, no hay de qué, a la orden and more — and which to use by region and how formal the moment is.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Spanish Subjunctive Explained Simply for Beginners

The Spanish subjunctive is a mood, not a tense — use it after a WEIRDO trigger plus que. Learn the one rule, the yo-form recipe, and the lines you already say.

June 9, 2026 5 min read

SpanishNow

How to Say "You" in Spanish: Tú, Usted, Vos & Vosotros

Spanish has five words for "you": tú, usted, vos, vosotros, and ustedes. Learn which to use by who you're talking to and where — plus the verb endings.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Spanish Filler Words: 15 Ways to Sound Natural

Spanish filler words like pues, o sea, and vale make you sound natural, not robotic. Learn 15 muletillas sorted by job, by region, and when not to use them.

June 9, 2026 6 min read