ajustar

to adjust

verb ah-hoos-TAHR Less Common

Also means

to tighten

Usage Note

Ajustar covers physical tightening (ajustar un tornillo = to tighten a screw), fitting (ajustar la ropa = to tailor clothes), and figurative adaptation (ajustar el presupuesto = to adjust the budget). The reflexive ajustarse a means 'to conform to' or 'to comply with' (ajustarse a las normas). Note the j is pronounced like a strong English h.

Examples

"Hay que ajustar el cinturón de seguridad bien."

Natural Translation

You need to fasten the seatbelt properly.

Related Words

Explore Spanish by topic

SpanishNow

Te Quiero vs Te Amo: Saying "I Love You" in Spanish

Te quiero vs te amo, explained: te quiero is the warm, safe everyday I love you; te amo is deeper and more romantic. A relationship-by-relationship map.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Spanish Subjunctive Explained Simply for Beginners

The Spanish subjunctive is a mood, not a tense — use it after a WEIRDO trigger plus que. Learn the one rule, the yo-form recipe, and the lines you already say.

June 9, 2026 5 min read

SpanishNow

Mexican Spanish Slang Every Traveler Should Know

Mexican Spanish slang decoded for travelers: what güey, mande, órale, and ahorita really mean, who you can safely say them to, and how rude each one is.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Spanish Accent Marks: 3 Rules for Every Word

A Spanish word needs an accent mark in just three cases: it breaks the default stress, it's a homophone, or a weak vowel splits off. Here are all three rules.

June 3, 2026 6 min read