Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| aprovechar (se de) | /apɾobeˈt͡ʃaɾ se de/ (word by word) |
| palanquear | /palankeaɾ/ (from spelling rules) |
The term 'leverage' can be translated in several ways depending on the context. Use aprovechar (se de) when you mean to make use of or take full advantage of an opportunity or resource. In specific financial or mechanical contexts, you may use palanquear. In business and finance, the noun apalancamiento is the standard term for leverage, referring to the use of borrowed capital for an investment. If you are referring to the ability to earn very high returns, you may use the noun rendimiento.
What does it mean word for word?
The words palanquear and apalancamiento are derived from the noun palanca, which literally means 'lever'.
Which one should you use?
Use aprovechar (se de) for the general sense of making the most of an opportunity or resource, whereas palanquear is specifically used in a financial or mechanical context. For formal situations, you may also use the phrase Sacar partido de to mean 'to take advantage of'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the pronominal form aprovecharse de, the preposition de is required before the object being leveraged.
How do you pronounce it?
/apɾobeˈtʃaɾ se de/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers should be careful with the distinction between aprovechar (to make use of) and aprovecharse de (to exploit or take advantage of someone or something), as these can have different connotations.
Did you know?
- In some Latin American countries, palanquear is used colloquially to describe the act of using influence to bypass rules or jump a queue.
- The noun provecho, found inside aprovechar, is used in the common phrase ¡Buen provecho!, which is the Spanish equivalent of 'Bon appétit'.
- In a business meeting, if you say you want to sacar partido de an idea, you are using a common idiom that literally translates to 'to pull profit from' it.
Examples in context
- Necesitamos aprovechar nuestros recursos para maximizar gananciasWe need to leverage our resources to maximize profits
- Deberías utilizar las redes socialesYou should leverage social media
- Ellos saben sacar partido de sus habilidadesThey know how to leverage their skills
- Él sabe aprovecharse de sus contactosHe knows how to leverage his connections
- Necesitan hacer uso de su influenciaThey need to make use of their influence
Sources
- Wiktionary, “leverage” translations and entries palanquear, 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.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (aprovechar, se, de) and can differ in connected speech.
