Inspirar

Inspirar is a verb in both Spanish and Portuguese with two main families of meanings: to inhale or draw in breath, and to inspire or motivate someone or something. In the inhalation sense, it refers to drawing air into the lungs and can be found in medical or descriptive contexts. In both languages, inspirar can also describe the act of filling someone with a feeling, idea, or motive, such as confidence, fear, or creativity.

Etymology and related forms: Inspirar comes from Latin inspirare, meaning “to breathe into,” from in- “into” plus spirare “to breathe.” The noun forms inspiraçao in Portuguese and inspiración in Spanish derive from the same root. The corresponding adjective and related terms include inspirador/inspiradora (inspirational) and inspirado/inspirada (inspired).

Conjugation and usage: In both languages, inspirar is a regular -ar verb. Spanish present tense forms include inspiro, inspiras, inspira, inspiramos, inspiráis, inspiran. Portuguese present tense forms include eu inspiro, tu inspiras, ele inspira, nós inspiramos, vós inspirais, eles inspiram. The verb is transitive in its common usage: it takes a direct object when meaning to motivate or cause a feeling (inspirar confianza, inspirar miedo) and may appear with a prepositional or reflexive construction when referring to becoming inspired (inspirarse in Spanish; inspirar-se in Portuguese).

Typical examples: “El discurso busca inspirar confianza en la audiencia.” (Spanish) / “O discurso pretende inspirar confiança." Inhalation examples: “inspiró profundamente” (Spanish) / “inspirou o ar profundamente” (Portuguese).

See also: inspiración, inspiração, inspirador, inspirado.