afectar
/a.fekˈtaɾ/verb★Intermediate
general
To have an effect or influence on someone or something; to impact.
El estrés puede afectar tu rendimiento en el trabajo.
Stress can affect your performance at work.
La decisión del gobierno afectará a muchos negocios.
The government's decision will affect many businesses.
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Commonly used in both formal and informal contexts.
informal
To pretend or feign (used with 'de' + verb infinitive).
Afectó de no entender la pregunta.
He pretended not to understand the question.
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This usage is informal and more common in spoken Spanish.
Collocations
afectar ato affectafectar deto pretend
Synonyms
Antonyms
💡Pro Tip
Common Confusion
Remember that 'afectar' means 'to affect', while 'efectuar' means 'to carry out'.
📖Word Origin
From Latin 'affectāre', meaning 'to influence or touch'.
📝Usage Notes
The verb 'afectar' is often confused with 'efectuar', which means 'to carry out' or 'to perform'.
Word Breakdown
afect-
to influence
root-ar
verb ending
suffixDiccionario Español-Inglés