consentir a alguien
/konsentiɾ a alɡjen/from spelling rules
To spoil someone in Spanish is to say consentir a alguien.
This phrase is used to describe the act of being overly indulgent with a person or giving them everything they want. You can also use the adjective forms consentidor for a masculine subject or consentidora for a feminine subject to describe someone who is prone to spoiling others.
Which one should you use?
The verb consentir can mean to spoil or indulge, but in many contexts it can also mean to permit or consent to an action.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the phrase consentir a alguien, you must use the personal 'a' before the person who is being spoiled.
How do you pronounce it?
/konsentiɾ a alɡjen/
Did you know?
- While consentir means 'to spoil' in a family context, it is also the standard legal term for 'to consent' to a contract or agreement.
- The verb consentir comes from the Latin cōnsentīre, which combines the prefix for 'together' and the root for 'to feel'.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, consentir is not always negative and can describe the act of nurturing or pampering a partner as a sign of affection.
Examples in context
- Me gusta consentir a mi esposaI enjoy spoiling my wife
- Mis abuelos me miman muchoMy grandparents spoil me a lot
- A mi novio le encanta consentirmeMy boyfriend loves to spoil me
- Mis tíos malcriaron a su hijo y ahora es un niño consentidoMy aunt and uncle spoiled their child, and now he is a spoiled kid
- Mi mamá siempre me chiquea cuando voy de visitaMy mom always spoils me when I visit
- El millonario solía consentir a sus nietos con regalos extravagantes cada Navidad.The millionaire used to spoil his grandchildren with extravagant gifts every Christmas.
- ¡Mi mejor amiga siempre me mima en mi cumpleaños! Este año me hizo una fiesta sorpresa.My best friend always spoils me on my birthday! This year, she threw me a surprise party.
- Los abuelos siempre consienten a sus nietos.Grandparents always spoil their grandchildren.
- No debes consentir a alguien de esa manera.You shouldn't spoil someone that way.
- Es un error consentir a alguien demasiado.It is a mistake to spoil someone too much.
Example conversation
Daniel and Sofía are discussing how to raise their nephew.
- DanielNo hay que consentir a alguien de forma excesiva.We shouldn't spoil someone excessively.
- SofíaTienes razón, Daniel, pero es muy difícil.You are right, Daniel, but it is very difficult.
- DanielÉl tiene que aprender límites.He has to learn boundaries.
- SofíaLo intentaré, pero me encanta darle todo.I will try, but I love giving him everything.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, alguien, consentir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
