Ablandar

Ablandar is a Spanish verb that means to make something softer or less firm. It is used for physical softening, such as food or materials, and for figurative softening of attitudes or situations. Literally, one can ablandar la carne (tenderize meat), ablandar pan, or ablandar cuero. Figuratively, it is used to soften positions, ease tensions, or mollify a person, as in ablandar las posturas or ablandar los ánimos. The term can also describe the process of making something more pliable or less harsh in a metaphorical sense, such as a harsh rule being ablandada by concessions.

Origin and usage: the verb is formed from the adjective blando (soft) with the prefix a-, indicating a change of state. It is attested in medieval Spanish and remains common across the Spanish-speaking world, with both literal and figurative applications.

Conjugation: ablandar is a regular -ar verb. Present: ablando, ablandas, ablanda, ablandamos, ablandáis, ablandan. Preterite (pretérito perfecto simple): ablandé, ablandaste, ablandó, ablandamos, ablandasteis, ablandaron. Future: ablandaré, ablandarás, ablandará, ablandaremos, ablandaréis, ablandarán. Subjunctive present: ablande, ablandes, ablande, ablandemos, ablandéis, ablanden. Participle: ablandado; gerund: ablandando.

Uso y matices: ablandar suele referirse a cambios de estado físicos, como aplicar calor o humedad, o a cambios de actitud. Sinónimos cercanos incluyen suavizar, templar y amoldar, though each puede carry different nuance. Ejemplos comunes: ablandar la carne, ablandar las posturas, ablandar los ánimos, o buscar ablandar una pena o una decisión mediante concesiones.