engreír

Engreír is a Spanish verb with two principal senses. In its literal sense, it means to fatten or to cause someone or something to gain weight by feeding, often used about animals. For example, a farmer may engreír cattle by giving them a richer diet. The term can also be applied to people on rarer occasions, in the sense of making someone gain weight through feeding.

In its figurative sense, engreír means to pamper or spoil someone, with the result that the person becomes conceited or self-important. In this use, the verb is commonly followed by a direct object or a reflexive form: engreír a alguien (to spoil someone) or engreírse (to become conceited). A related adjective is engreído, describing a person who is presumptuous or vain, and the noun engreimiento refers to the state or behavior of vanity.

Usage notes provide that engreír can be used transitively and, in its reflexive form, to describe a change in attitude. The phrase engreírse de something is used to indicate pride or satisfaction about a particular achievement or possession, as in engreírse de sus logros.

Synonyms and related terms include engordar for weight gain in a more general or physical sense, and mimar, consentir or presumir for the pampering or vanity senses. Engreír is widely understood in Spanish-speaking regions, though the frequency and nuance of its figurative use can vary by country.

See also: engreído, engreimiento, engreírse.