boicotear
/boikoteˈaɾ/
To boycott in Spanish is boicotear. If unsure, use boicotear. Wiktionary also lists boicotizar.
Meaning: to abstain from dealing with a person or organisation as a protest (verb)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| boicotear | /boikoteˈaɾ/ | |
| boicotizar | /boikotiθaɾ/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /boikotisaɾ/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
Puerto Rico |
The verb means to abstain from dealing with a person or organization as a form of protest. In a more formal context, you might use the phrase Abstenerse de comprar to specifically express the act of abstaining from buying a product or company.
Which one should you use?
While boicotear is the standard verb, boicotizar is a variant used in specific areas. The related nouns include boicot, which refers to the boycott itself, boicoteo for the act of boycotting and boicotín.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Puerto Rico, the form boicotizar is used.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The third-person plural preterite form of boicotear is boicotearon, used to say that they boycotted.
How do you pronounce it?
/boikoteˈaɾ/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, boicotear is often used more broadly than the English 'boycott' to describe the act of sabotaging a process or undermining a plan.
- The Spanish word boicot is actually a 'name' that turned into a word, originating from the surname of an Irish land agent named Charles Boycott.
- Spanish uses the suffix -ear in boicotear, a productive ending often used to turn foreign nouns or sounds into verbs, such as tuitear from 'tweet'.
Examples in context
- Boicotearán ese producto.They will boycott that product.This sentence is useful for seeing the future tense of boicotear.Tatoeba #856738 by joronoso, translation #680413 by Source_VOA
- Muchos consumidores decidieron abstenerse de comprar productos de esa compañíaMany consumers decided to abstain from buying products from that company
- Decidimos hacer boicot a ese eventoWe decided to boycott that event
- ¡Vamos a boicotear ese restaurante!Let's boycott that restaurant!
- Los sindicatos decidieron hacer boicot a las empresas que no respetaban los derechos de los trabajadores.The unions decided to boycott companies that did not respect workers' rights.
- Vamos a boicotear esa tienda.We are going to boycott that store.
- Decidieron boicotear la marca por su política.They decided to boycott the brand because of its policy.
Example conversation
Daniel and María are discussing a local company's recent actions.
- Daniel¿Vas a boicotear a esa empresa?Are you going to boycott that company?
- MaríaSí, Daniel, no apoyo sus métodos.Yes, Daniel, I do not support their methods.
- DanielYo también voy a boicotear sus servicios.I am also going to boycott their services.
- MaríaEs la mejor forma de protestar.It is the best way to protest.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “boycott” translations and entries boicotear, 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.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries boicotear, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
