conservar
Lemma Details
Translation: to conserve; to preserve; to maintain; to keep; to retain; to save
Part of Speech: verb
Etymology: From Latin 'conservare', formed from 'con-' (together, completely) and 'servare' (to save, to keep). The English cognate 'conserve' shares the same Latin root. The core meaning relates to keeping something in its original state or protecting it from harm or loss. This etymological connection helps explain why 'conservar' in Spanish and 'conserve' in English share similar meanings around preservation and maintenance.
Commonality: 85%
Guessability: 90%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Es importante conservar los recursos naturales.
It's important to conserve natural resources.
Mi abuela conserva fotografías antiguas en un álbum.
My grandmother keeps old photographs in an album.
Debemos conservar la calma en situaciones difíciles.
We must maintain calm in difficult situations.
Este método ayuda a conservar los alimentos por más tiempo.
This method helps preserve food for longer.
Han logrado conservar las tradiciones de sus antepasados.
They have managed to preserve their ancestors' traditions.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'conserve' in English - they sound and mean almost the same thing.
- Con-servar = 'with service' - you're serving something by keeping it safe.
- Conservation efforts 'conservan' endangered species.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking cultures, 'conservar' has important connotations in environmental contexts (conservation of natural resources), food preservation (traditional methods of preserving foods), and in social contexts (conserving traditions and cultural heritage). The concept of 'conservar' is often associated with sustainability and respect for heritage.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Conservar' means 'to preserve/maintain' while 'conversar' means 'to converse/talk'. They look similar but have completely different meanings.
This word:
Necesitamos conservar agua durante la sequía.
We need to conserve water during the drought.
Confused word:
Me gusta conversar con mis amigos después de clase.
I like to talk with my friends after class.
Notes: The difference is just one letter ('s' vs 'v'), but the meanings are entirely unrelated.
Mnemonic: 'Conservar' has an 's' like 'save' or 'store', while 'conversar' has a 'v' like 'verbal'.
Explanation: 'Conservar' means 'to preserve/maintain' while 'considerar' means 'to consider/think about'.
This word:
Es importante conservar nuestra herencia cultural.
It's important to preserve our cultural heritage.
Confused word:
Debes considerar todas las opciones antes de decidir.
You should consider all options before deciding.
Notes: Both verbs start with 'con-' but have different meanings and uses.
Mnemonic: 'Considerar' contains 'consider', while 'conservar' contains 'conserve'.