abrazar
/abɾaˈθaɾ/
To embrace in Spanish is abrazar.
The verb abrazar means to clasp someone or each other in the arms with affection. It can be used for both a physical hug and for metaphorical embraces.
Meaning: to clasp (someone or each other) in the arms with affection (verb)
Which one should you use?
While abrazar is used for both physical and metaphorical contexts, it is very common to use the phrase dar un abrazo to specifically express the physical act of giving a hug.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
abrazar is a regular -ar verb. When the person you are embracing is the object of the sentence, you must use the personal a before that person.
How do you pronounce it?
/abɾaˈθaɾ/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word abrazar is a perfect homophone for abrasar, which means 'to scorch' or 'to burn'.
- The etymological root of abrazar comes from the Latin word bracchium, which is also the ancestor of the English word 'brachial' used in anatomy.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the act of abrazar is often accompanied by a light kiss on the cheek, a gesture much more common in social greetings than in many English-speaking countries.
Examples in context
- Esperanto nos permite abrazar el mundo.Esperanto allows us to embrace the world.This sentence uses abrazar to show how a language can connect people to the world.Tatoeba #2868939 by cueyayotl, translation #2675588 by shekitten
- ¡Bienvenido! ¡Ven aquí y dame un abrazo!Welcome! Come here and give me a hug!
- Ella quiere abrazar a su hermano.She wants to embrace her brother.
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena meet at the airport after a long time.
- Daniel¡Elena, qué alegría verte!Elena, what a joy to see you!
- Elena¡Daniel! Ven aquí, quiero abrazar a mi mejor amigo.Daniel! Come here, I want to hug my best friend.
- DanielTe he extrañado mucho.I have missed you a lot.
- ElenaYo también, fue un viaje muy largo.Me too, it was a very long trip.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “embrace” translations and entries abrazar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries abrazar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
