Spanish Conversation · Level 135
45 words
Spanish word
vacilar
Pronunciation
IPA/baθiˈlaɾ/
Meaning
- verbhesitate
Example
No vaciles en preguntar.
Don't hesitate to ask.
More examples
Él vacila ante la idea de hablar en público.
He hesitates at the idea of speaking in public.
Core concept
A person frozen half a step, unsure which way to go.
Common phrases
vacilar en
hesitate to
vacilar ante
hesitate at
Similar words
dudar: Feels uncertain about a decision or belief, lacking conviction to choose or trust.
hesitar: Pauses briefly before speaking or acting, showing a short reluctance to proceed.
titubear: Speaks or moves with a trembling, faltering hesitation, voice or steps sounding unsteady.
Definition in Spanish
Dudar o mostrar inseguridad que retrasa una respuesta o una acción.
Word origin
Derived from Latin vacillāre 'to sway', where the image of swaying became a metaphor for wavering in mind and thus for hesitating before answering or acting.
Usage tips
- No vaciles en... is a common set phrase encouraging someone not to delay, yet in casual speech vacilar can also mean to joke with or mock someone, so rely on context.