Spanish Conversation · Level 85
60 words
Spanish word
arrodillar
Pronunciation
IPA/aroðiˈʝaɾ/
Meaning
- verbkneel
Example
Por favor, no te arrodilles delante de mí.
Please don't kneel in front of me.
More examples
Tuve que arrodillarme para atarme las botas.
I had to kneel to tie my boots.
Core concept
One or both knees touching the floor.
Common phrases
arrodillarse para atarse los zapatos
kneel to tie one's shoes
arrodillarse junto a alguien
kneel beside someone
Similar words
arrodillarse: Bending one's own knees to rest one or both on the floor.
ponerse de rodillas: Moving into a kneeling position by placing the knees on the floor.
hincarse: Kneeling while bearing weight on the knees.
Definition in Spanish
Bajar una o ambas rodillas hasta apoyar en el suelo; suele usarse en forma pronominal (arrodillarse) para la acción propia.
Word origin
From a- plus rodilla 'knee' and the verb suffix -ar, where rodilla comes from Latin rotula 'little wheel' originally naming the kneecap.
Usage tips
- The imperative arrodíllate can sound abrupt in requests, so speakers often prefer ponerse de rodillas or a softer phrasing when asking someone to kneel.
Other meanings
- make ... kneelverb
Opposites
- levantarsestand upverb
Related words
- arrodilladokneelingadjective
- arrodillamientokneelingnoun