compensarla

Compensarla is a Spanish verb phrase formed by the verb compensar plus the feminine direct object pronoun la. It translates generally as “to compensate her” or, more broadly, “to compensate it (feminine).” The meaning aligns with the core sense of compensar, which includes to balance, offset, reimburse, or remunerate.

Usage and forms

In sentences, the pronoun la typically attaches to the verb in its infinitive, gerund, or imperative forms: for example, voy a compensarla (I am going to compensate her), estamos compensándola (we are compensating her), compénsala (compensate her). When the context involves a different recipient or a different feminine object, the exact pronoun changes accordingly (la, las) to match number and gender. Spanish also allows double-object constructions, where two clitic pronouns are used, such as compensársela, compensárselo, compensárselas, depending on the gender and number of the second object.

Examples

- Quiero compensarla por el daño. (I want to compensate her for the damage.)

- Vamos a compensarla después de la demora. (We are going to compensate her after the delay.)

- Compénsala. (Compensate her.)

Double pronouns

When there is both a direct object and an indirect object, the form can become compensársela or another double-pronoun variant. In such cases, se replaces the indirect object (a ella, a él, a ellos, etc.), and la/lo/las/los remains as the direct object.

Etymology and context

Compensar comes from Latin compensare, from com- (together) and pensare (to weigh), originally conveying the idea of balancing or counterbalancing. In contemporary Spanish, compensar and its pronominal forms appear in legal, insurance, business, and everyday contexts dealing with reparations or rewards.