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otorgar

to grant

verb oh-tor-GAHR Less Common

Origin: from Catalan/Old Spanish atorgar, ultimately from Latin auctorizare

Also means

to award

Usage Note

Otorgar is formal and typically used for official acts: granting rights, awarding prizes, or signing a notarial deed (otorgar un poder notarial). It is stronger and more ceremonial than dar or conceder. In legal Spanish otorgar testamento (to make a will) is fixed phrasing. Colloquial registers almost always prefer dar or conceder instead.

Examples

"El jurado otorgó el primer premio al director."

Natural Translation

The jury awarded the first prize to the director.

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