habitar
Lemma Details
Translation: to inhabit; to live in; to dwell; to reside
Part of Speech: verb
Etymology: From Latin 'habitare', meaning 'to dwell, live, reside', which is a frequentative form of 'habere' (to have, hold). The English cognates 'inhabit', 'habitat', and 'habitation' all share this Latin root. The connection between 'having' and 'dwelling' reflects how inhabiting a place implies possession or occupancy of that space.
Commonality: 70%
Guessability: 80%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Los indígenas habitan esta región desde hace siglos.
The indigenous people have inhabited this region for centuries.
Decidimos habitar en las afueras de la ciudad.
We decided to live on the outskirts of the city.
Muchas especies habitan en este ecosistema.
Many species inhabit this ecosystem.
El edificio no es habitable debido a problemas estructurales.
The building is not habitable due to structural problems.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'habitat' in English - a place where animals or plants naturally live.
- Remember 'habit' - just as habits are regular parts of your life, 'habitar' refers to where you regularly live.
- The 'hab' sound in both 'habitar' and 'inhabit' connects them in meaning.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking countries, 'habitar' often carries connotations of making a space one's own, beyond merely living there. It's commonly used in discussions about housing rights, urban planning, and environmental concerns about human settlements.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Habitar' means 'to inhabit/live in' while 'habilitar' means 'to enable/authorize/qualify'.
Confused word:
El gobierno habilitó el nuevo sistema de pago.
The government enabled the new payment system.
Notes: Both verbs share the 'habi-' root but have distinct meanings in modern Spanish.
Mnemonic: 'Habitar' has 'habit' in it - where you habitually live. 'Habilitar' has 'habil' (skill) - enabling someone to do something.
Explanation: 'Habitar' refers to living in a place, while 'habituar' means 'to accustom' or 'to get used to'.
Confused word:
Debes habituar a tu perro a caminar con correa.
You should get your dog accustomed to walking on a leash.
Notes: Both share Latin origins related to 'habere' (to have), but evolved to have different meanings.
Mnemonic: 'Habituar' contains 'habit' - forming a habit requires getting used to something.