verb

acompañar

accompany

Estar con otra persona para hacerle compañía o ir juntos a algún lugar.

Definition & meaning

Acompañar is a verb meaning to accompany, go with, or be with someone. It can also mean:

To keep someone company: acompañar a un amigo — to keep a friend company.
To go with someone to a place: acompañar a alguien al médico — to go with someone to the doctor.
To accompany or complement something, such as food or music: bread can accompany a meal, and one instrument can accompany a singer.
In some contexts, to accompany or support someone through an experience, such as a difficult time.

Grammar & Word origin

It is a regular -ar verb. Its present-tense forms include acompaño , acompañas , and acompaña . With a specific person as its direct object, it normally uses the personal a: acompañar a alguien .

The word is formed from compañía (“company; companionship”) and the verb-forming ending -ar. Compañía is historically related to the idea of sharing bread or fellowship.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms vary by context:

ir con — “to go with”; a straightforward alternative when someone goes somewhere alongside another person.
hacer compañía — “to keep company”; emphasizes providing companionship rather than physically going somewhere.
escoltar — “to escort”; suggests accompanying someone for protection, formality, or supervision.
asistir — “to assist” or “attend”; it can overlap when accompanying means helping, but it does not generally mean simply going with someone.

There is no single antonym for every sense. Depending on context, opposites include:

abandonar — “to abandon,” an opposite when acompañar means staying with or supporting someone.
dejar solo — “to leave someone alone,” the opposite of keeping them company.
preceder — “to precede,” an opposite in the sense of going before rather than accompanying someone.

Common phrases & collocations

acompañar a alguien — to accompany someone.
acompañar a alguien a un lugar — to go with someone to a place.
acompañar a alguien en un momento difícil — to support someone during a difficult time.
acompañar una comida — to go with or complement a meal.
acompañar una canción — to provide musical accompaniment to a song.