animar

/aniˈmaɾ/ · B1 · verb

to encourage

📣 Latin anima = soul, breath: animar puts soul into someone

Same root as English animate and animal, a creature with breath. To animar someone is to breathe life into them, so it means to cheer them on or encourage them. ¡Anímate! means Cheer up! or Go for it!

More Spanish words · How Spanish works