Alentabar

Alentabar is a Spanish verb meaning to encourage, hearten, or embolden someone or a group. It conveys giving confidence, courage, or motivation to undertake a task or face a situation. The sense is broader than simple praise; it implies energizing action or lifting morale. It can be used for individuals or collectives, and appears in both everyday speech and formal rhetoric. Common synonyms include alentar, animar, motivar, and estimular, while antonyms include desanimar and desalentar.

Usage and context: Alentabar is generally transitive, taking a direct object (una persona, un equipo, una idea). It is used in sports, education, politics, and business to describe acts such as words of support, incentives, or initiatives that boost confidence or resolve. Example: El entrenador alentó al equipo con palabras de aliento. Un discurso alentador puede influir en la percepción de riesgo o posibilidad de éxito.

Etymology and form: The verb is related to alentar and aliento, sharing the sense of giving breath, life, or vigor. It is conjugated like other -ar verbs in Spanish. Variants related include alentador (encouraging, adjective) and aliento (breath, encouragement).