Spanish word

achacar

Pronunciation

IPA/atʃaˈkaɾ/

Meaning

  • verbblame

Example

No le achacas la culpa a María.

You don't blame María.

Illustration for achacar (blame)

More examples

No se puede achacar todo a la mala suerte.

You can't blame everything on bad luck.

Core concept

An arrow linking a cause to a person.

Common phrases

  • achacar la culpa a

    blame on

  • achacar algo a alguien

    blame something on someone

Similar words

culpar: Blame for an error or failure is assigned to the individual responsible.
atribuir: An outcome's origin is attributed to another person, object, or situation.
acusar: Someone is openly charged with having done something wrong.

Definition in Spanish

Decir que cierta persona, cosa o factor es la causa de un problema, defecto o situación adversa.

Word origin

Formed from the prefix a- plus the verb chacar, whose origin is uncertain, the verb developed the sense of attributing a problem or fault to a person or factor.

Usage tips

  • Common in written or explanatory registers to attribute problems to causes, it appears as achacar X a Y and usually feels less personally accusatory than echar la culpa.

Other meanings

  • attributeverb
  • ascribeverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word