pensar
Lemma Details
Translation: to think; to believe; to consider; to reflect; to ponder; to contemplate
Part of Speech: verb
Etymology: Pensar comes from Latin 'pensare' meaning 'to weigh, consider, examine'. This Latin verb was originally a frequentative form of 'pendere' (to hang, weigh). The English cognate 'pensive' (thoughtfully or wistfully sad) shares this root, as does 'pension' (originally a payment weighed out). The semantic evolution from 'weighing' to 'thinking' reflects the metaphorical concept of mentally weighing options or ideas.
Commonality: 95%
Guessability: 70%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Mnemonics
- Think of 'pensive' in English - someone who is deep in thought.
- Pensar sounds like 'pens are' tools for writing down thoughts.
- The 'pen' in pensar can remind you of writing down your thoughts.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
Pensar is a fundamental verb in Spanish that appears in many common expressions. The stem change from 'e' to 'ie' in certain conjugations (pienso, piensas, etc.) is a typical pattern in Spanish verbs that English learners need to master.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'pensar' means 'to think', 'pesar' means 'to weigh' or 'to cause regret'. They look similar but have different meanings and conjugations.
Confused word:
Voy a pesar las manzanas.
I'm going to weigh the apples.
Notes: Both verbs have Latin origins related to weighing, but 'pensar' evolved to refer to mental weighing (thinking), while 'pesar' retained the physical meaning.
Mnemonic: Pensar has an 'n' for 'noggin' (head) where you do your thinking; pesar lacks the 'n' and is about physical weight.
Explanation: Pensar (to think) and pasar (to pass, to happen) can sound similar in rapid speech but have completely different meanings and uses.
Notes: Pasar is a very versatile verb with many idiomatic uses, while pensar is more focused on mental activities.
Mnemonic: Pensar has 'pen' like your brain writes thoughts; pasar has 'pas' like 'pass' in English.