Also means
to pledge; to insist
Usage Note
Empeñar has two main uses: literally, to pawn an object at a casa de empeños (pawn shop), and figuratively in the reflexive empeñarse en meaning 'to insist on' or 'to be set on doing something.' Se empeña en tener razón means 'he insists on being right.' The past participle empeñado also describes someone deep in debt.
Examples
"Empeñó su reloj para pagar la deuda."
Natural Translation
He pawned his watch to pay the debt.
Related Words
Explore Spanish by topic
SpanishNow
6 min read
SpanishNow
6 min read