obtener
Lemma Details
Translation: to obtain; to get; to acquire; to gain; to achieve; to attain; to secure
Part of Speech: verb
Etymology: Obtener comes from Latin 'obtinere', which is formed from 'ob' (toward, against) and 'tenere' (to hold). The English cognate 'obtain' shares this exact same Latin origin. The root 'tenere' is also found in many English words like 'tenant', 'tenure', 'tenacious', and 'maintain'. The prefix 'ob-' indicates direction toward something, suggesting the action of reaching for and holding onto something.
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 80%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Necesito obtener un pasaporte nuevo.
I need to obtain a new passport.
Ella obtuvo el primer premio en el concurso.
She obtained first prize in the contest.
¿Cómo puedo obtener más información?
How can I get more information?
Obtuvimos buenos resultados en el experimento.
We obtained good results in the experiment.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'obtain' in English - they sound very similar and mean the same thing.
- The 'ten' in 'obtener' relates to 'tenere' (to hold) - when you obtain something, you hold it.
- Visualize reaching out (ob-) to hold (tener) something you want.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Cultural Context
Widely used in both formal and informal contexts. In business and academic settings, 'obtener' is often used to discuss achievements, results, and acquisitions. The verb is neutral and doesn't carry specific cultural connotations beyond its literal meaning.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'obtener' means 'to obtain' or 'to get', 'contener' means 'to contain' or 'to hold back'. They share the '-tener' root but have different prefixes and meanings.
Confused word:
Este recipiente puede contener hasta cinco litros.
This container can hold up to five liters.
Notes: The confusion often arises because both verbs are derived from the Latin 'tenere' (to hold), but with different prefixes that change the meaning.
Mnemonic: 'Obtener' starts with 'ob-' like 'obtain', while 'contener' starts with 'con-' like 'contain'.
Explanation: 'Obtener' means to get or acquire something new, while 'mantener' means to maintain or keep something you already have.
Notes: Both verbs are irregular and follow similar conjugation patterns since they share the '-tener' root.
Mnemonic: Think of 'obtener' as 'obtaining' something new, and 'mantener' as 'maintaining' what you already have.