verb

aconsejar

advise

Dar una opinión o sugerencia a alguien para ayudarle a tomar una decisión o resolver un problema.

Definition & meaning

Aconsejar means to advise, to counsel, or to recommend. It can mean giving someone advice about what to do, or suggesting a particular course of action.

Te aconsejo descansar. — I advise you to rest.
El médico aconsejó una operación. — The doctor recommended an operation.

It can also mean that circumstances make something advisable: La situación aconseja prudencia — “The situation calls for caution.”

Grammar & Word origin

Aconsejar is a regular -ar verb. It can be followed by a person, an infinitive, a noun, or a clause with the subjunctive:

Le aconsejé que esperara. — I advised him or her to wait.

It comes from the Latin consilium, meaning “advice” or “counsel,” through the Spanish noun consejo (“advice”). The prefix a- helps form the verb.

Synonyms & antonyms

recomendar — “to recommend”; often suggests a specific option rather than giving broader advice.
sugerir — “to suggest”; generally less direct than advising.
orientar — “to guide”; emphasizes helping someone find direction.

An opposite is desaconsejar , meaning “to advise against.”

Common phrases & collocations

aconsejar a alguien — to advise someone.
aconsejar que — to advise that someone do something; normally followed by the subjunctive.
aconsejar prudencia — to advise caution.