Spanish word

encarnar

Pronunciation

IPA/eŋkaɾˈnaɾ/

Meaning

  • verbembody

Example

Ella encarna los valores de la empresa.

She embodies the company's values.

Illustration for encarnar (embody)

More examples

Él encarna la confianza necesaria para convencer al cliente.

He embodies the confidence necessary to convince the client.

Core concept

A person whose actions and appearance reflect an inner quality or role.

Common phrases

  • encarnar la esencia

    embody the essence

  • encarnar el espíritu

    embody the spirit

  • encarnar la imagen

    embody the image

Similar words

representar: Symbolically stands for an idea, group, or quality in a public way.
incorporar: Incorporates qualities or elements into oneself or one's practice.
manifestar: Makes thoughts or feelings visible by expressing them outwardly.
personificar: Portrays an abstract concept as a concrete person, image, or character.

Definition in Spanish

Hacer presente en acciones o en la apariencia una cualidad, idea o papel; también tomar forma corpórea o representar un personaje.

Word origin

From Latin incarnāre (in- 'into' + caro 'flesh'), originally 'to make flesh' and later used figuratively to mean giving a quality or role tangible presence in a person.

Usage tips

  • It typically takes a direct object for qualities or roles (encarnar los valores, encarnar un papel), while the reflexive encarnarse en is used for literal or religious incarnations.

Other meanings

  • incarnateverb
  • portrayverb

Opposites

  • abstraerabstractverb

Related words

  • encarnaciónincarnationnoun
  • encarnadoembodiedadjective
  • reencarnaciónreincarnationnoun

Word lists with this word