| Compound Forms: |
WordReference English-Spanish Dictionary © 2026:
| abandon yourself to [sth] v expr | (surrender to [sth]: desires, etc.) | abandonarse a, rendirse a v prnl + prep |
| | Después de que le tocase la lotería se abandonó a los placeres de la carne y al alcohol. |
| absent yourself vtr + refl | (leave) | retirarse⇒ v prnl |
| | | irse v prnl |
| | I started feeling unwell at the party, so I absented myself. |
| | Me empecé a sentir mal en la fiesta así que me retiré. |
| absent yourself from [sth] v expr | formal (leave) | retirarse de v prnl + prep |
| | If you feel unwell, simply absent yourself from the table. |
| | Si te encuentras mal puedes retirarte de la mesa. |
absent,
absent yourself from [sth] v expr | formal (not attend) | ausentarse de v prnl + prep |
| | Mr Smith sends his apologies for having to absent himself from today's meeting. |
| | El señor Smith les pide disculpas por tener que ausentarse de la reunión de hoy. |
| accommodate yourself (to [sth]) vtr + refl | formal (get used to [sth]) | acostumbrarse a v prnl + prep |
| | | habituarse a v prnl + prep |
| account yourself [sth] vtr + refl | formal (consider yourself) | considerarse⇒ v prnl |
| | He accounts himself poor. |
| | Se considera pobre. |
| acquaint yourself with [sth] v expr | (become familiar with) | familiarizarse con v prnl |
| | Read the book, and acquaint yourself with Shakespeare's work. |
| | Te recomiendo este texto básico, es ideal para familiarizarse con el tema. |
| adapt yourself to [sth] v expr | (get used to) | acostumbrarse a, habituarse a v prnl + prep |
| | (coloquial, figurado) | hacerse a v prnl + prep |
| adapt yourself to doing [sth] v expr | (get used to doing [sth]) | acostumbrarse a v prnl + prep |
| adapt yourself to [sth] v expr | (change to accommodate) | adaptarse a v prnl + prep |
| adapt yourself to doing [sth] v expr | (change to accommodate) | adaptar⇒ vtr |
| | You need to adapt yourself to living with other people. |
| affiance yourself vtr + refl | archaic (become engaged to marry) | comprometerse⇒ v prnl |
| affiance yourself to [sb] v expr | archaic (become engaged to marry) | comprometerse con v prnl + prep |
| align yourself with [sb/sth] v expr | figurative (agree with) | alinearse con v prnl + prep |
| | | estar de acuerdo con vi + loc prep |
| | By agreeing with the decision to move forward with the plans, I unknowingly aligned myself with Anthony. |
| | Al aceptar la decisión de seguir adelante con los planes, sin darme cuenta me alineé con Anthony. |
| all to yourself adv | (for [sb]'s sole use) (ES, coloquial) | todo para ti adj + loc |
| | (ES, coloquial) | para ti solito expr |
| | (ES, coloquial) | todo tuyo expr |
| | (AR) | para vos solo expr |
| | Cheri had the train compartment all to herself. |
| allow yourself [sth] vtr + refl | (indulgence) | permitirse⇒ v prnl |
| | Even while dieting, I allow myself the occasional dessert. |
| | Me permito un postre de vez en cuando. |
| allow yourself [sth] vtr + refl | (enough time) | tomarse⇒ v prnl |
| | Please allow yourself 15 minutes to complete the second part of the test. |
| | Tómense 15 minutos para completar la segunda parte del examen. |
| ally yourself with [sb] v expr | (join together with [sb]) | aliarse con v prnl + prep |
| amuse yourself vtr + refl | (find [sth] entertaining to do) | entretenerse⇒ v prnl |
| apply yourself vtr + refl | (make an effort, work hard) | aplicarse⇒ v prnl |
| | | dedicarse v prnl + prep |
| | | ponerse a trabajar loc verb |
| | If you apply yourself, you will succeed. |
| | Si te aplicas triunfarás. |
| apply yourself to [sth] vtr + refl | (make an effort, work hard) | concentrarse⇒ v prnl |
| | I am really going to apply myself to my studies. |
be ashamed of yourself,
feel ashamed of yourself v expr | (feel shame) | estar avergonzado de ti mismo loc verb |
| | | dar vergüenza loc verb |
| | You should be ashamed of yourself for failing that test! |
| | Deberías estar avergonzada de ti misma por haber reprobado el examen. |
| | Debería darte vergüenza haber reprobado el examen. |
| assert yourself vtr + refl | (be insistent or firm) | reafirmarse⇒, afirmarse⇒ v prnl |
| | | mantenerse firme loc verb |
| | | reafirmar⇒ vtr |
| | It's important to assert yourself when you feel you are being treated unfairly. |
| | Es importante reafirmarse cuando sientes que no te están tratando correctamente. |
| assure yourself [sth] v expr | (secure for yourself) | reafirmarse⇒ v prnl |
| | | asegurarse⇒ v prnl |
| attach yourself to [sb/sth] v expr | figurative (individual, group: follow around) | unirse a v prnl + prep |
| | (afectivamente) | encariñarse con v prnl + prep |
| | Dave attached himself to our group in the first week of college, but none of us really like him. |
| | Dave se unió a nuestro grupo durante la primera semana de la universidad, pero a nadie le cae bien. |
| attach yourself to [sth] v expr | (be associated with) | asociarse a v prnl + prep |
| | | adscribirse a v prnl + prep |
| | Will attached himself to the new business venture. |
| | Will se asoció al nuevo negocio. |
| avail yourself of [sth] v expr | (make use of) | hacer uso de loc verb + prep |
| | Buster failed because he did not avail himself of the help offered to him. |
| | Buster fracasó porque no hizo uso de la ayuda que le fue ofrecida. |
be a law unto yourself,
be a law onto yourself v expr | (disregard conventions) | dictas las propias leyes expr |
| be true to yourself v expr | (live by own values) | ser fiel a uno mismo loc verb |
| | To be true to oneself you must act in accordance with who you are and what you believe. |
| | Para ser fiel a uno mismo hay que actuar en concordancia con los propios valores. |
| be yourself vi | (behave naturally) | ser uno mismo loc verb |
| | I know you're nervous about the interview, but just be yourself and you'll do fine. |
| | Sé que estás nervioso por la entrevista, pero sólo sé tú mismo y todo estará bien. |
| bear yourself vtr | (conduct: yourself) | comportarse⇒ v prnl |
| | He bore himself with courage and distinction. |
| | Se comportó con coraje y dignidad. |
| beat yourself up v expr | figurative, informal (feel guilty or bad) (coloquial, figurado) | comerse la cabeza loc verb |
| | | mortificarse⇒, culparse⇒ v prnl |
| | | castigarse⇒ v prnl |
| | It was just an honest mistake, so you shouldn't beat yourself up about it. |
| | Fue un error honesto; no te comas la cabeza. |
| beat up on yourself v expr | US, informal (feel guilty or bad) | autoflagelarse⇒ v pron |
| behave yourself vi + refl | (act nicely) | comportarse⇒ v prnl |
| Note: Often used in the imperative. |
| | Please behave yourselves when we visit grandma. |
| | Por favor, compórtense cuando visitemos a su abuela. |
| | | portarse bien v prnl + adv |
| | Por favor, pórtense bien cuando visitemos a su abuela. |
| beside yourself expr | figurative (devastated) (alterado) | fuera de sí loc adj |
| | Debbie was beside herself when she received the news of her son's death. |
| | Debbie estaba fuera de sí cuando recibió las noticias de la muerte de su hija. |
| beside yourself with [sth] prep | figurative (out of your senses) (coloquial) | sacado adj |
| | | estar alguien fuera de sí expr |
| | My mother was beside herself with worry when I didn't call. |
| | Mi madre estaba sacada cuando no la llamé. |
| | Mi madre estaba fuera de sí cuando no la llamé. |
| bestir yourself vtr + refl | literary (rouse yourself) | levantarse⇒ v prnl |
| | | moverse⇒ v prnl |
| | You'd best bestir yourself, my lady; it's almost noon. |
| betray yourself vtr + refl | (go against your own values) | traicionarse⇒ v prnl |
| | I would be betraying myself if I voted for that party. |
| betroth yourself vtr + refl | dated (promise to marry) | comprometerse⇒ v prnl |
| | | estar comprometido loc verb |
| betroth yourself to [sb] v expr | dated (promise to marry) | comprometerse con v prnl + prep |
| | | estar comprometido con loc verb |
| better yourself v expr | (become more educated) | mejorar⇒, avanzar⇒ vi |
| | | mejorarse⇒ v prnl |
| | Paul reads scientific journals in an attempt to better himself. |
| | Paul lee revistas científicas en un intento de mejorar. |
| | Paul lee revistas científicas en un intento de mejorarse. |
| better yourself v expr | (achieve higher standing) | mejorar⇒, avanzar⇒ vi |
| | | superarse⇒ v prnl |
| | | prosperar⇒ vi |
| | My father worked in a factory but I wanted to better myself and was determined to get an office job. |
| | Mi padre trabajó en una fábrica, pero yo quiero mejorar y conseguir un trabajo de oficina. |
| | Mi padre trabajaba en una fábrica, pero yo quería prosperar y estaba decidido a conseguir un trabajo de oficina. |
| bootstrap yourself vtr + refl | figurative, informal (advance by own effort) | salir adelante por su cuenta loc verb |
| Note: Commonly followed by into, out of, to |
| | Abigail had a poor upbringing but has bootstrapped herself to the top of her profession. |
| brace yourself vtr + refl | figurative (prepare for shock) | prepararse⇒ v prnl |
| | | agarrarse⇒ v prnl |
| | The doctor warned the patient's family to brace themselves. |
| | El doctor avisó a la familia que debían prepararse. |
| | (figurado) | respirar hondo loc interj |
| | ¡Respira hondo! Están pronosticando un pie de nieve para esta noche. |
| | (CU, coloquial) | agarrarse bien los pantalones expr |
| | (coloquial) | agarrarse Catalina expr |
| brace yourself for [sth] v expr | figurative (prepare for shock) | prepararse para algo loc verb |
| | Everyone is bracing themselves for the foot of snow forecast for tonight. |
| | Todos se preparan para la llegada de la nieve esta noche. |
| Brace yourself interj | figurative (prepare for shock) | mentalizarse⇒ v prnl |
| | Brace yourself, I've got some bad news. |
| | Mentalízate, te tengo malas noticias. |
| brace yourself vtr + refl | (prepare for impact) | prepararse⇒ v prnl |
| | The flight attendant instructed the passengers to brace themselves. |
| | La asistente de vuelo le dijo a los pasajeros que se preparen. |
| brace yourself for [sth] v expr | (prepare for impact) (impacto) | prepararse para loc verb |
| | | estar listo para loc verb |
| | Seeing that there was no way to escape, Joel braced himself for the blow of the other man's fist. |
| | Viendo que no había escapatoria, Joel se preparó para el impacto del puño del hombre. |
| Brace yourself interj | (prepare for impact) (tú) | prepárate interj |
| | (vos) | preparate interj |
| | (ud) | prepárese interj |
| | (uds) | prepárense interj |
| | Brace yourself. We're about to land. |
| | Prepárate. Estamos por aterrizar. |
| bring yourself to do [sth] v expr | (force yourself to do [sth]) | forzarse a v prnl + prep |
| | | obligar a vtr + prep |
| Note: Usually used in the negative |
| | I can't bring myself to see a film that's that violent. |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. El dolor lo obligó a postrarse sobre sus rodillas. |
| bronze yourself vtr + refl | informal (sunbathe, get a tan) | broncearse⇒ v prnl |
| burden yourself with [sth] v expr | (responsibility) | cargarse con v prnl + prep |
| | Don't burden yourself with the practical side of moving house: leave it to the removal men. |
| | No te cargues con la parte práctica de mudarte, déjaselo a los hombres de la mudanza. |
| | | echarse encima loc verb |
| | No te eches encima la parte práctica de mudarte, déjaselo a los hombres de la mudanza. |
| | | abrumarse⇒ v prnl |
| | No te abrumes con la parte práctica de mudarte, déjaselo a los hombres de la mudanza. |
| burden yourself with [sth] v expr | (concerns) | cargarse con, llenarse de v prnl + prep |
| | Don't burden yourself with my insignificant problems. |
| | ¡No te cargues con tantos problemas! Juan siempre tiende a llenarse de preocupaciones. |
| | | preocuparse con v prnl + prep |
| burn yourself out v expr | (person: suffer overexhaustion) (figurado, coloquial) | quemarse⇒ v prnl |
| | | agotarse⇒ v prnl |
| | | extenuarse⇒ v prnl |
| bury yourself in [sth] v expr | figurative (engross yourself in [sth]) | perderse en v prnl + prep |
| | | hundirse en v prnl + prep |
| | | sumergirse en v prnl + prep |
| | On rainy days, the best thing to do is bury yourself in a good book. |
| | Los días lluviosos lo mejor es perderse en un buen libro. |
| bury yourself in [sth] v expr | figurative (become immersed in [sth]) | meterse en v prnl + prep |
| | | meterse de lleno en loc verb |
| | | hundirse en v prnl + prep |
| busy yourself vtr | (keep occupied) | mantenerse ocupado v prnl + adj |
| | Arthur tries to busy himself with small tasks. |
| | Arthur trata de mantenerse ocupado con pequeñas tareas. |
by yourself,
all by yourself adv | (on one's own: without company) | solo adj |
| | | sin compañía loc adv |
| | Going to the cinema by yourself can be fun. |
by yourself,
all by yourself adv | (on one's own: without help) | solo adj |
| | | por uno mismo loc adv |
| | | sin ayuda loc adv |
by yourself,
all by yourself adv | (on your own: without company) | solo adj |
| | | sin compañía loc adv |
| | Have you ever been to a restaurant by yourself? |
| | ¿Alguna vez has ido solo a un restaurante? |
by yourself,
all by yourself adv | (on your own: without help) | solo adj |
| | (tuteo; informal) | por ti mismo, por ti misma loc adv |
| | (tuteo, voseo; informal) | por tu cuenta, por tu propia cuenta loc adv |
| | (voseo; informal) | por vos mismo, por vos misma loc adv |
| | Did you fix this faucet by yourself? |
| | ¿Tú solo arreglaste este grifo? |
| | ¿Arreglaste este grifo por ti mismo? |
| | (ustedeo; formal) | por su cuenta, por su propia cuenta loc adv |
| | (ustedeo; formal) | por usted mismo, por usted misma loc adv |
| Calm yourself! interj | (don't panic) (usted) | ¡cálmese!, ¡tranquilícese! loc interj |
| | (tú) | ¡cálmate!, ¡tranquilízate! loc interj |
| | (vos) | ¡calmate!, ¡tranquilizate! loc interj |
| | Madam, please calm yourself! The doctor is on her way to treat your son. |
| | loc interj |
| camouflage yourself vtr + refl | (conceal self using color, etc.) | camuflarse⇒ v prnl |
| | Many insects camouflage themselves to avoid being eaten. |
| | Muchos insectos se camuflan para evitar que se los coman. |
| can't help yourself v expr | informal (be compelled to do [sth]) | no poder evitarlo loc verb |
| | She can't help herself - she has to criticize everything I do. |
| carry yourself vtr + refl | (posture: hold yourself) | sostenerse⇒ v prnl |
| | | mantener la postura loc verb |
| | The ballerina carries herself well. |
| | La bailarina se sostiene bien. |
| carry yourself vtr + refl | (posture) | comportarse⇒ v prnl |
| | | moverse⇒ v prnl |
| | He was poor, but carried himself with dignity. |
| | Era pobre pero se comportaba con dignidad. |
| carve out a niche for yourself v expr | figurative (find your role, trade) (figurado) | hacerse un lugar loc verb |
| carve out a niche for yourself in [sth] v expr | figurative (find your role, trade) (figurado) | hacerse un lugar en loc verb |
center yourself (US),
centre yourself (UK) vtr + refl | (make yourself calm, focused) | centrarse⇒ v prnl |
| | | concentrarse⇒ v prnl |
| | Meditating every morning helps me to center myself. |
| | Meditar todas las mañanas me ayuda a centrarme. |
| cloak yourself in [sth] v expr | figurative (be concealed) | ocultarse en v prnl + prep |
| | Cloak yourself in darkness and sneak in the back way. |
| | Ocúltate en la oscuridad y escabúllete por la puerta de atrás. |
| | (ES) | camuflarse en v prnl + prep |
| | Camuflatéate en la oscuridad y escabúllete por la puerta de atrás. |
| cloak yourself in [sth] v expr | figurative (have an air of) | envolverse en v prnl + prep |
| | Sarah liked to cloak herself in an air of mystery, but that just covered up the fact that she was usually clueless. |
| | A Sarah le gusta envolverse en un aire de misterio, pero es simplemente una pantalla para ocultar el hecho de que no sabe nada. |
| cloister yourself vtr + refl | (shut yourself away) | recluirse⇒ v prnl |
| | | aislarse⇒ v prnl |
| | | confinarse⇒ v prnl |
| | The writer cloistered himself in his mountain cabin until he finished writing his novel. |
| collect yourself vtr + refl | figurative (emotions: calm) | recomponerse⇒, serenarse⇒ v prnl |
| | Let me collect myself before I go out on stage. I'm still a bit emotional. |
| | Dejame que me recomponga antes de salir al escenario; todavía estoy un poco emocionado. |
| commit yourself to [sth] v expr | (fully engage in) | comprometerse con v prnl + prep |
| | Paine committed himself to the cause of American independence. |
| | Paine se comprometió con la causa de la independencia americana. |
| commit yourself to doing [sth] v expr | (fully engage in doing) | comprometerse a v prnl + prep |
| | You need to schedule times when you will commit yourself to studying. |
| | Debes poner momentos en el calendario cuando te comprometerás a estudiar. |
| comport yourself vtr + refl | (behave, conduct yourself) | comportarse⇒ v prnl |
| | Officers have a duty to comport themselves in a manner which sets a good example to their men. |
| | Los oficiales militares tienen el deber de comportarse en una manera ejemplar. |
| | | portarse bien v prnl + adv |
| | Los oficiales militares tienen el deber de portarse en una manera ejemplar. |
| compose yourself vtr + refl | (make yourself calm) (AR) | calmate, tranquilizate v prnl |
| conceal yourself vi | (hide) | esconderse⇒ v prnl |
| | The burglar concealed himself in the bushes while staking out the house. |
| | | ocultarse⇒ v prnl |
| concern yourself with [sth] v expr | (worry about) | preocuparse por v prnl + prep |
| | I'll buy it for you, so don't concern yourself with the cost. |
| concern yourself with [sth] v expr | (be preoccupied with) | estar preocupado por loc verb |
| | | preocuparse por v prnl + prep |
| | It's best not to concern yourself with things you cannot change. |
| | Es mejor no estar preocupado por cosas que no puedes controlar. |
| conduct yourself vtr + refl | (behave) | comportarse⇒ v prnl |
| | Please conduct yourself with politeness. |
| | Por favor, compórtate con educación. |
| conduct yourself vi | (behave, act) | portarse bien v prnl + adv |
| | | comportarse⇒ v prnl |
| | Please conduct yourself like a gentleman when you're with my daughter. |
| | Por favor, pórtate bien cuando estés con mi hija. |
| | | comportarse⇒ v prnl |
| | Por favor, compórtate como un caballero cuando estés con mi hija. |
| | (formal) | conducirse⇒ v prnl |
| | Por favor, condúcete como un caballero cuando estés con mi hija. |
| congratulate yourself vtr + refl | (be proud of yourself) | estar orgulloso de uno mismo loc verb |
| | | felicitarse⇒ v prnl |
| | Even though you lost the race, you should congratulate yourself for finishing at all. |
| | Aunque hayas perdido la carrera, debes estar orgulloso de ti mismo por haberla finalizado. |
| content yourself with doing [sth] v expr | (be satisfied with doing [sth]) | conformarse con v prnl + prep |
| | | contentarse con, estarse contento con, estarse satisfecho con loc verb |
| | Jane had to content herself with redecorating her kitchen as she couldn't afford to have a new one fitted. |
| | Jane tenía que conformarse con redecorar la cocina, ya que no tenía dinero para instalar una nueva. |
| content yourself with [sth] v expr | (be satisfied with [sth]) | estar contento con loc verb |
| | | conformarse con v prnl + prep |
| | I'm too old to party on a Friday night; these days I content myself with a cup of tea and a few episodes of my favourite TV show. |
| | Estoy vieja para salir un viernes a la noche, estoy contenta con una taza de té y algunos episodios de mi programa favorito. |
| contort yourself vtr + refl | (twist into unnatural position) | contorsionarse⇒ v prnl |
| | You're going to have to contort yourself to get into such a tiny dress! |