Spanish word

fomentar

Pronunciation

IPA/fomenˈtaɾ/

Meaning

  • verbpromote

Example

Debemos fomentar la lectura entre los niños.

We should promote reading among children.

Illustration for fomentar (promote)

More examples

Para mejorar el ambiente laboral, hay que fomentar la cooperación entre departamentos.

To improve the work environment, we must promote cooperation between departments.

Core concept

A watering can and a small stake beside a sprout.

Common phrases

  • fomentar la cooperación

    promote cooperation

  • fomentar el diálogo

    promote dialogue

  • fomentar la participación

    promote participation

Similar words

promover: Actively advances a plan, policy, or new practice so it gains wider acceptance.
impulsar: Drives something forward by giving it momentum, accelerating its progress.
animar: Brightens someone's mood and increases their willingness to take action.
estimular: Stimulates interest or attention, prompting a mental or physical response.

Definition in Spanish

Incentivar o facilitar que algo crezca, se extienda o se consolide.

Word origin

From Latin fomentare, ultimately from fomentum 'a warming application', where a literal sense of applying warmth broadens metaphorically to 'stimulate or encourage growth'.

Usage tips

  • In everyday speech speakers often prefer 'promover' or 'animar' instead of 'fomentar', which sounds more formal or institutional.

Other meanings

  • encourageverb
  • fosterverb

Opposites

  • desalentardiscourageverb
  • desincentivardisincentivizeverb

Related words

  • fomentopromotionnoun
  • fomentadorpromoternoun
  • fomentablepromotableadjective

Word lists with this word