concederse

Concederse is a Spanish pronominal verb that means to grant oneself or to allow oneself something, often implying a moment of self-indulgence, rest, or reward. It is formed from the verb conceder (to grant) combined with the reflexive pronoun se, and it commonly appears in constructions with a direct object that denotes a desirable act or privilege, such as un descanso, un capricho, un momento, or un lujo.

Usage and nuances

Concederse usually conveys a deliberate choice to treat oneself, sometimes as a reward after effort or as an act of self-care. It can be followed by a noun phrase or by an infinitive phrase: concederse un descanso, concederse el lujo de viajar, concederse tomarse un tiempo para leer. The verb is conjugated normally in all tenses with the reflexive pronoun: me concedo, te concedes, se concede, nos concedemos, os concedéis, se conceden; examples include “Me concedí una semana de vacaciones” and “Se concedió un momento para pensar.”

Relation to synonyms

Permitirse is a close synonym, but concederse often carries a nuance de indulgencia o lujo más marcada: the act is framed as something one permits oneself, sometimes with a sense of privilegio. Concederse and permitirse can be interchangeable in many contexts, but concederse can emphasize the voluntary and self-granted nature more strongly.

Origin and usage notes

The term derives from conceder, from Latin concedere. It is widely used across Spanish-speaking regions, with similar frequency in Spain and Latin America. Concederse is typically used in reflective, self-referential statements about gifts, breaks, or rewards that the subject provides for themselves.