verb

acostumbrar

get used · get used to

Hacer que algo sea normal o común para una persona, hasta que ya no le parece extraño.

Definition & meaning

The verb acostumbrar primarily means to accustom, to habituate, or to get used to something. It describes the process of making someone or something familiar with a new situation, condition, or environment.

There are two main ways the verb is used:

Transitive use: To make someone else accustomed to something (e.g., "I will accustom my dog to walking").
Reflexive use (acostumbrarse): To get used to something yourself (e.g., "I am getting used to the cold weather").

Additionally, when used in the imperfect tense (acostumbraba), it can express a past habit, meaning "used to" (e.g., "Yo acostumbraba ir al parque" translates to "I used to go to the park").

Grammar & Word origin

Grammar:

It is a regular -ar verb.
It is often used with the preposition a followed by an infinitive or a noun (e.g., acostumbrarse a la rutina - to get used to the routine).
The reflexive form acostumbrarse is significantly more common in daily speech than the transitive form.

Word origin:

The word is derived from the Spanish prefix a- (to/towards) and the noun costumbre , which means "habit" or "custom." Costumbre itself traces back to the Latin consuetudo.