intensificar
/intensifikaɾ/from spelling rules
To step it up in Spanish is to intensificar.
Which one should you use?
Use intensificar for the literal action of intensifying something. Use ¡Ponte las pilas! when you mean 'Get a move on!' or 'Put in the batteries!' Use ¡Dale gas! when you specifically mean 'Hurry up!' or 'Step on it!'
How does it change in a sentence?
The gerund intensificando is used to express continuous actions, such as 'stepping it up' or 'intensifying'. The first-person singular preterite form intensifiqué means 'I stepped it up'.
How do you pronounce it?
/intensifikaɾ/
Did you know?
- In certain contexts, ¡Ponte las pilas! does not just mean 'work harder' but is used to warn someone to be alert to danger or a trick.
- Telling someone to ¡Ponte las pilas! can carry a much harsher, more reprimanding tone than the relatively neutral English 'step it up'.
- The verb intensificar belongs to a group of verbs ending in -ificar that allow Spanish to create new actions by simply adding a suffix to an adjective.
Examples in context
- Necesitas esforzarte más si quieres alcanzar tus metas.You need to make more effort if you want to achieve your goals.
- Como equipo, necesitamos mejorar nuestro rendimiento para alcanzar nuestros objetivos.As a team, we need to improve our performance to reach our goals.
- ¡Vamos, ponte las pilas si quieres terminar el proyecto hoy mismo!Come on, step it up if you want to finish the project today!
- Se nos hace tarde, dale gas si quieres llegar a tiempo.We're running late, step on it if you want to arrive on time.
- ¡No te rindas! Necesitas esforzarte más si quieres lograr tus sueños.Don't give up! You need to step it up if you want to achieve your dreams.
- ¡Oye, ponte las pilas y termina este informe antes de la reunión!Hey, step it up and finish this report before the meeting!
- Dale gas si quieres llegar a tiempo al partido de fútbol.Step on it if you want to arrive on time for the soccer match.
- Tenemos que intensificar los esfuerzos.We have to step up the efforts.
- Tenemos que intensificar los entrenamientos.We have to step up the training.
- Ella decidió intensificar su búsqueda.She decided to step up her search.
- El equipo debe intensificar su esfuerzo.The team must step up its effort.
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are discussing their slow progress on a project.
- DanielNo terminaremos a tiempo así.We won't finish on time like this.
- ElenaTienes razón, Daniel. Hay que intensificar el ritmo.You're right, Daniel. We need to step it up.
- Daniel¿Podemos trabajar más horas mañana?Can we work more hours tomorrow?
- ElenaSí, Elena está de acuerdo con eso.Yes, Elena agrees with that.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries intensificar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
