Spanish Conversation · Level 88
60 words
Spanish word
apropiar
Pronunciation
IPA/apɾoˈpjaɾ/
Meaning
- verbtake possession of
Example
Se apropió de los documentos.
He took possession of the documents.
More examples
La empresa se apropió del crédito de los investigadores.
The company took credit for the researchers' work.
Core concept
Claiming someone else's object as one's own.
Common phrases
apropiarse del crédito
take credit for
apropiarse del trabajo ajeno
appropriate someone else's work
apropiarse de la idea
appropriate the idea
Similar words
apropiarse: Claim another person's item as one's own, typically expressed reflexively and often accusatory.
adueñarse: Begin treating something as one's own by assuming control or exclusive use.
quedarse: Retain an item in one's possession, keeping it instead of handing it back.
Definition in Spanish
Tomar para sí algo que pertenece a otra persona, frecuentemente sin permiso; suele expresarse como "apropiarse de + objeto".
Word origin
It comes from Latin appropriāre (ad- 'to' + proprius 'one's own'), meaning to make something one's own and giving Spanish apropiar/apropiarse the sense of taking possession of another's property.
Usage tips
- The verb normally appears with a reflexive pronoun in Spanish and usually carries an accusatory tone, while neutral alternatives include tomar or quedarse con.