Resignarse

Resignarse is a Spanish pronominal verb that means to resign oneself to a situation, to come to terms with something, often with a sense of passive acceptance rather than active effort. It is commonly used with the preposition a, followed by a noun or an infinitive: resignarse a la realidad, resignarse a no lograr un objetivo.

Etymology and meaning note that resignarse derives from the verb resignar plus the reflexive se. The related verb resignar comes from Latin resignare, with meanings connected to renouncing or relinquishing. Resignarse emphasizes internal acceptance rather than external action.

Usage and grammar: as a regular -ar verb, it conjugates with the usual endings, with an attached reflexive pronoun. In the present indicative: me resigno, te resignas, se resigna, nos resignamos, os resignáis, se resignan. It is common to see phrases such as “me resigno a vivir con menos” or “se resignó a la realidad.” The construction resigne/ resígnese in the subjunctive and other tenses follows standard -ar verb patterns with the reflexive pronoun placed before the verb or attached to an infinitive (e.g., “que me resigne,” “resignémonos a ello”).

Distinctions: resignarse is distinct from renunciar, which means to quit or renounce a job, position, or belief and usually implies an explicit decision. Rendirse conveys active surrender or giving up in a confronted moment. Resignarse, by contrast, conveys acceptance of a circumstance over time.

See also: resignación (noun), resignado (adjective). Related verbs include renunciar and rendirse, which express different nuances of giving up or ceasing.