levantar pesas
/lebantaɾ pesas/from spelling rules
To lift weights in Spanish is levantar pesas.
levantar pesas is used specifically to describe resistance training. It is a more precise term than the general words for exercise or training.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of the verb levantar, meaning to lift and the noun pesas, meaning weights.
Which one should you use?
While levantar pesas is the standard way to describe the activity, you may also encounter hacer pesas, which is a common alternative way to say 'to do weights'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, you may hear Realizar ejercicios de levantamiento de mancuernas to mean 'perform dumbbell lifting exercises'. In Colombia, the phrase Entrenar con pesas is used to mean 'train with weights'.
How do you pronounce it?
/lebantaɾ pesas/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, if you call someone pesado, you are not calling them a heavy lifter, but rather someone who is incredibly annoying or tedious.
- While levantar pesas describes the act of lifting, the Spanish word for the sport of weightlifting is halterofilia, a term derived from Greek rather than Latin.
- The verb levantar shares a common ancestor with the English word 'levitate', both stemming from the Latin 'levare' meaning to raise or lighten.
Examples in context
- En cuanto al ejercicio físico, aunque detesto la mayoría de los deportes (pienso que son muy aburridos) me gusta ir al gimnasio a levantar pesas.As for physical exercise, although I loathe most sports (I think they're really boring), I do like going to the gym to lift weights.This sentence shows how to use levantar pesas when discussing gym preferences and physical exercise.Tatoeba #1754488 by teskmon, translation #899133 by eastasiastudent
- Levantar pesas es un excelente ejercicio para fortalecer los músculos.Lifting weights is an excellent exercise to strengthen your muscles.
- Para mejorar tu forma física, es esencial realizar ejercicios de levantamiento de pesas regularmente.To improve your fitness, it is essential to regularly perform weightlifting exercises.
- Me gusta hacer pesas en el gimnasio cerca de mi casa.I like to lift weights at the gym near my house.
- En el gimnasio de Buenos Aires, siempre veo a la gente levantando hierros.At the gym in Buenos Aires, I always see people lifting weights.
- Prefiero levantar pesas antes de correr.I prefer to lift weights before running.
- Él va al gimnasio para levantar pesas.He goes to the gym to lift weights.
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are talking about their fitness routines at the park.
- Elena¿Vas al gimnasio hoy, Javier?Are you going to the gym today, Javier?
- JavierSí, quiero levantar pesas para ganar músculo.Yes, I want to lift weights to gain muscle.
- ElenaYo también voy a levantar pesas más tarde.I am also going to lift weights later.
- Javier¡Qué bien! Nos vemos allá entonces.Great! See you there then.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries levantar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
