WordReference English-Spanish Dictionary © 2026:
| Principal Translations |
| empeño nm | (esfuerzo, tesón) (attitude) | determination, tenacity n |
| | (mental) | resolution, resolve, will power n |
| | (informal) | stick-to-itiveness n |
| | Sacó adelante la carrera con empeño. |
| | He got a good start in his career with determination. |
| empeño nm | (préstamo con fianza) | pawn, deposit, security n |
| | (colloquial) | in hock adj |
| | (UK) | pledge, earnest n |
| | Dejó el reloj de oro en una casa de empeño. |
| | He left his gold watch at a pawn shop. |
| Additional Translations |
| empeño nm | (intento constante) (action) | effort n |
| | (mental) | intent, resolve n |
| | (physical effort) | exertion n |
| | No deja su empeño de pasar a la universidad. |
| | She won't desist in her effort to attend university. |
WordReference English-Spanish Dictionary © 2026:
| Principal Translations |
| empeñar⇒ vtr | (dar como garantía de pago) (give as security) | pawn⇒ vtr |
| | (slang) | hock⇒ vtr |
| | Empeñamos las joyas de la familia para pagar las deudas. |
| | We pawned the family jewels to pay off the debts. |
| empeñarse en v prnl + prep | (empecinarse en algo) | insist on vi + prep |
| | | be set on doing [sth] v expr |
| | Martín se empeñó en demostrar sus teorías. |
| | He insisted on demonstrating his theories. |
| empeñarse⇒ v prnl | (finanzas: adquirir muchas deudas) | fall into debt v expr |
| | Tenía tal descontrol sobre sus finanzas que se empeñó sin darse cuenta. |
| | He had such a lack of control over his finances that he fell into debt without realizing. |
| Additional Translations |
| empeñarse v prnl | coloquial (contraer muchas deudas) | get into debt, go into debt v expr |
| | El obrero se empeñó con el dueño de la empresa para comprar un coche. Carolina tenía tal descontrol sobre sus finanzas que se empeñó sin darse cuenta. |
| | The worker got into debt (or: went into debt) with the owner of the business in order to buy a car. |
| empeñar⇒ vtr | (comprometer) (word, as in a promise) | give⇒ vtr |
| | Empeñaste tu palabra, ahora cumple. |
| | You gave your word, now fulfill it. |
WordReference English-Spanish Dictionary © 2026:
'empeño' aparece también en las siguientes entradas:
In the Spanish description:
English: