Empeñamos

Empeñamos is a Spanish verb form that comes from empeñar. It corresponds to the first-person plural (nosotros) in two tenses: present indicative and the simple past (preterite). Therefore, depending on context, it can mean “we pawn” or “we pawned.”

The most common use of empeñar is to refer to pawning or pledging an object as collateral to obtain money. In this sense, empeñamos implies that the speakers are placing an item in a pawnshop or similar arrangement. Examples: “Empeñamos el reloj para conseguir dinero” can be understood as “We pawned the watch to get money,” while in present tense it would be understood as “We pawn the watch.” The verb can also be used in broader contexts to mean pledging an object or asset as security for a loan, typically within financial or legal discussions.

Empeñar is distinct from its reflexive counterpart, empeñarse, which is used to express a determination or insistence to do something. In that sense, the related forms differ in meaning and use, with empeñarse frequently appearing as “to be determined” or “to insist.”

Etymology in brief: empeñamos shares its root with empeño, a noun meaning pledge, commitment, or security. The word is commonly encountered in relation to pawnshops, lending practices, and formal pledges of value.

In summary, empeñamos is the nosotros form of empeñar in present or past tense, most often related to pawning or pledging items, with its meaning clarified by context.