inclinarse
/inklinaɾse/from spelling rules
To bow down in Spanish is inclinarse.
The verb inclinarse is used to describe a physical gesture of respect or deference. It is also used metaphorically to describe the act of submitting to someone's will.
Meaning: to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of inclinar, which means to incline or tilt and the reflexive pronoun se, meaning oneself.
Which one should you use?
While inclinarse is the standard verb for bowing, the verb arrodillarse specifically means to kneel. Therefore, Arrodíllate and Arrodíllese refer to kneeling, whereas Inclínate and Inclínese refer to bowing.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb inclinarse is reflexive, which means you must use reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, os, se) when conjugating it.
How do you pronounce it?
/inklinaɾse/
Did you know?
- In some contexts, the word inclinar can be used to describe the act of tipping a glass or bottle to pour a drink.
- If you want to say you are 'bowing down' to a person's will in a romantic or dramatic sense, you might use doblegarse instead of inclinarse. While inclinarse is physical, doblegarse implies being bent or broken by pressure or emotion.
- The word inclinar can be used in the phrase inclinar la balanza, which means to tip the scales or influence the outcome of a situation.
Examples in context
- Arrodíllese ante el rey.Bow down before the king.
- Inclínese ante la imagen sagrada.Bow down before the sacred image.
- Arrodíllate y pide perdón.Bow down and ask for forgiveness.
- Inclínate ante la gran diva del pop.Bow down before the great pop diva.
- Se inclinó ante el rey.He bowed down before the king.
- Deben inclinarse ante el rey.They must bow down before the king.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry inclinarse, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
