apretamos

Apretamos is the first-person plural form of the Spanish verb apretar. In the present indicative it means we press, we squeeze, or we tighten. It is also the first-person plural form in the pretérito indefinido (simple past), where it means we pressed or we squeezed. The same spelling covers two different tenses, so context is needed to determine which is intended.

Common uses include both physical and figurative senses. Physically, it describes applying force to make something firmer or tighter, as in “Apretamos los tornillos para que queden firmes” (we tightened the screws) or “Apretamos las manos” (we squeezed hands). Figuratively, apretar can mean to apply pressure or insist, as in “Los sindicatos aprietan al gobierno” (the unions press the government) or “apretar el paso” (to speed up the pace). The verb also appears in phrases like “apretar con las demandas” (to press with demands) and in athletic or musical contexts, such as “apretar el ritmo” (to tighten or increase the tempo).

Etymology and cognates: apretar derives from Latin premere, meaning to press. It is widely cognate with Portuguese apertar and shares the general sense of applying pressure, tightening, or squeezing across Romance languages.

Related forms and notes: other conjugations of apretar include aprieto (I squeeze), aprietas, aprieta, and the noun aprietón or apretón (a squeeze or firm grip). The form apretamos can be ambiguous between present and past, depending on context.