Spanish Conversation · Level 47
75 words
Spanish word
esforzar
Pronunciation
IPA/esfoɾˈθaɾ/
Meaning
- verbmake an effort
Example
Me esforcé cada día para hablar con nativos.
I made an effort every day to speak with native speakers.
More examples
Cada semestre los estudiantes se esfuerzan para aprobar los exámenes.
Every semester the students make an effort to pass the exams.
Core concept
Person steadily exerting themselves to reach a distant goal.
Common phrases
esforzarse por
make an effort to
esforzarse en
apply oneself to
esforzarse mucho
make a great effort
Similar words
intentar: Makes a single or brief attempt to do something, often without prolonged persistence.
esforzarse: Exerts oneself repeatedly and steadily to overcome difficulty.
procurar: Acts carefully and deliberately to bring about a desired result.
Definition in Spanish
Indica aplicar energía o empeño para conseguir algo; suele usarse en su forma pronominal esforzarse para decir que una persona trabaja con dedicación.
Word origin
Comes from Latin ex- 'out' and fortis 'strong', passing through Old Spanish esforçar and yielding the noun esfuerzo from the same root.
Usage tips
- Esforzarse emphasizes sustained or repeated effort, while intentar often refers to a single attempt.