Spanish Conversation · Level 31
90 words
Spanish word
atender
Pronunciation
IPA/atenˈdeɾ/
Meaning
- verbpay attention to
Example
Siempre atiendo a lo que dice mi jefe.
I always pay attention to what my boss says.
More examples
En la recepción atienden al público todos los días.
At the reception desk they serve the public every day.
Core concept
Answering or attending to someone's requests or needs.
Common phrases
atender a alguien
serve someone
atender el teléfono
pick up the phone
atender las necesidades
meet the needs
atender a las instrucciones
heed the instructions
atender al público
serve the public
Similar words
escuchar: Give focused attention to someone speaking, hearing their words closely.
oír: Hear sounds or voices as a sensory input that may occur without trying.
servir: Provide service to a customer by handling orders and requests.
ocuparse: Handle a job or care for someone by taking it on and seeing it through.
Definition in Spanish
Prestar atención y ocuparse de las necesidades o solicitudes de una persona o de un asunto.
Word origin
From Latin attendere formed from ad- plus tendere, originally 'stretch toward', which shifted into the sense of attending to people or matters.
Usage tips
- Spanish atender is a common false friend with English attend, since English attend usually means be present at an event while Spanish atender means to look after or serve someone.
Other meanings
- serveverb
- take care ofverb
Opposites
- desatenderleave unattendedverb
- ignorarignoreverb