abonar

Meaning in English

Abonar is a Spanish verb with several common meanings:

1. To fertilize / to add fertilizer

   • Abonar la tierra = to fertilize the soil, to enrich the ground with manure/compost/fertilizer.

2. To pay / to make a payment (often a partial payment)

   • Abonar una factura = to pay a bill (often implying paying an installment or an amount toward it).
   • In banking/finance, it can also mean to credit an amount to an account:
     • El banco abonó el dinero en mi cuenta = the bank credited the money to my account.

3. (Less formal/figurative) To contribute to / to help bring about

   • Eso abona la idea de que… = that supports/strengthens the idea that…

Parts / word structure

• Root: abon- (related to abono, meaning “fertilizer” or “payment/credit” depending on context).
• Ending: -ar (marks it as a regular -ar verb in its basic form/infinitive).

Spanish synonyms (by meaning)

• To fertilize: fertilizar, enriquecer (la tierra), echar abono
• To pay: pagar, saldar, liquidar (depending on whether it’s a full settlement)
• To credit (a bank account): acreditar, ingresar (in the sense of depositing/entering funds)
• To support/strengthen (figurative): respaldar, apoyar, reforzar, sustentar

Spanish antonyms (when applicable)

• To fertilize: empobrecer (la tierra), agotar (el suelo)
• To pay: deber, adeudar, impagar (or no pagar)
• To credit: debit(ar), cargar (as in charging an amount to an account)