Abordarlas

Abordarlas is a Spanish verbal phrase formed by the infinitive abordar plus the feminine plural direct object pronoun las. The meaning depends on context and on what las refers to; it can mean “to address them” in a discussion or to “board them” in a physical sense, such as ships or boats.

Origin and senses. Abordar originally meant to approach or to board a vessel. In modern usage, it also means to tackle, discuss, or handle a topic or problem. When used with a feminine plural object, abordarlas specifies that the action targets feminine plural nouns, such as las dudas, las objeciones, las preguntas, or las embarcaciones. Examples include: “Tenemos que abordar las dudas” (Tenemos que abordarlas) and “La tripulación abordó las naves” (La tripulación las abordó).

Grammatical notes. Abordarlas is built from the verb abordar with a clitic object pronoun las. The pronoun can be placed directly after the verb in written form (abordarlas) or attached to an infinitive or gerund in certain constructions (vamos a abordarlas; estamos abordándolas). When used with a compound tense featuring haber, the feminine plural object requires agreement with the participle: “las hemos abordadas” (we have addressed them).

Usage considerations. In formal writing, abordar temas or abordar objeciones is common, and abordarlas frequently appears in policy, journalism, and organizational contexts. The exact meaning hinges on the referenced feminine plural nouns; misidentification of the antecedent can lead to ambiguity.

See also. Abordar, abordaje, and expressions such as abordar un tema or abordar un problema.