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reembolsar

B1 verb #6,000 most common 10 min read

reembolsar

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Practice it Examples Notes & Tips reembolsar in 30 Seconds

Explanation reembolsar in your Level:

At the A1 level, you are just beginning to learn about transactions. While 'reembolsar' might be a bit advanced, you should recognize it as related to money. At this stage, think of it as 'giving money back'. You might see it on a receipt in a store. Instead of using this long word, you would probably say 'devolver el dinero' (return the money). Focus on the root word 'bolsa' (bag/purse) to help you remember it deals with where money goes. You don't need to conjugate it perfectly yet, but knowing that 're-' means 'again' and 'embolsar' is like 'putting in a bag' helps you understand the concept of a refund. In an A1 context, you might hear a shopkeeper say 'No reembolsamos' (We don't do refunds), which is a very important phrase to understand before you buy something!

By A2, you are starting to handle more specific situations like traveling and shopping. You can use 'reembolsar' in simple sentences to talk about returning items. You should understand that it is a regular verb. At this level, you might use it to ask for your money back if a train is late or a product is broken. You are also learning about direct and indirect objects, so you might start saying 'Me reembolsan el dinero' (They refund the money to me). It's a useful word for basic travel complaints. You might also encounter the noun 'reembolso' when looking at booking conditions for a hotel. Remember that 'reembolsar' is more formal than 'devolver', so using it makes you sound more polite and serious when dealing with customer service.

At B1, you are expected to use 'reembolsar' confidently in professional and administrative contexts. This is the level where the word truly belongs. You should be able to discuss work expenses, insurance claims, and detailed return policies. You can conjugate it in various tenses like the future ('me reembolsarán') or the conditional ('me reembolsarían'). You also understand the difference between 'reembolsar' and 'devolver'. You know that 'reembolsar' is specifically for money. At B1, you can write a formal email to a company asking for a reimbursement for a cancelled event, providing reasons and attaching receipts. You are also comfortable with the 'se' passive voice, like 'se reembolsará el importe total', which is common in formal terms and conditions.

At the B2 level, you use 'reembolsar' with nuance. You understand its place in legal and financial jargon. You can use it in complex sentence structures, such as 'Es fundamental que la empresa reembolse los gastos a la mayor brevedad posible' (using the subjunctive). You also recognize related terms like 'reembolsable' (refundable) and 'no reembolsable' (non-refundable), which are crucial for navigating contracts. You can discuss the ethics of refunds and company policies in detail. At B2, you are also aware of regional variations and synonyms like 'abonar' or 'liquidar'. You can switch between formal and informal registers, knowing when 'reembolsar' is necessary and when 'devolver' is more appropriate for the social setting.

By C1, 'reembolsar' is part of your sophisticated vocabulary for finance, law, and business. You can use it to discuss complex financial instruments, such as the 'reembolso de participaciones' in an investment fund. You understand the subtle differences between 'reembolsar', 'resarcir', and 'restituir'. You can use the word in high-level debates about consumer rights or corporate responsibility. Your use of pronouns is flawless, even with double pronouns like 'reembolsándomelo'. You can read technical financial documents or legal statutes that use the term and understand the exact implications for all parties involved. You also recognize the word in literary contexts where it might be used metaphorically for returning a debt of gratitude or time.

At the C2 level, 'reembolsar' is a word you use with total precision and stylistic flair. You are aware of its historical etymology and how it has evolved in Spanish legal tradition. You can use it in academic writing about economics or in high-stakes legal negotiations. You might use it in a philosophical sense, discussing the 'reembolso' of life's experiences or the impossibility of 'reembolsar' lost time. You are also familiar with very specific idioms or rare financial terms that include the word. Your command of the word allows you to use it in any context—from a casual chat about a tax refund to a complex discussion on international debt restructuring—always choosing the perfect preposition and tone.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

reembolsar in 30 Seconds

Reembolsar is a Spanish verb meaning to refund or reimburse money spent.
It is a regular -ar verb used in formal and professional contexts.
It requires an indirect object (the person) and a direct object (the money).
Commonly used for shopping returns, work expenses, and insurance claims.

The Spanish verb reembolsar is a fundamental term in the world of commerce, finance, and personal administration. At its core, it means to return money that has been previously spent, lost, or advanced by someone else. While English speakers might use 'refund' or 'reimburse' interchangeably in many contexts, 'reembolsar' captures both the act of a store giving you back your money for a faulty product and a company paying an employee back for travel expenses. Understanding this word is a significant milestone for B1 learners because it transitions from the simple vocabulary of buying things (A1/A2) into the more complex territory of consumer rights and professional responsibilities.

Retail Context: In a store, if you return a shirt because it is the wrong size, the cashier might ask if you want a voucher or if you prefer them to reembolsar el importe (refund the amount) to your credit card. This is a formal transaction governed by consumer protection laws in Spanish-speaking countries.

Si el producto está defectuoso, la empresa tiene la obligación de reembolsar el dinero íntegramente.

Professional Context: When working for a Spanish company, you might pay for a taxi or a business lunch out of pocket. To get that money back, you submit a 'nota de gastos' so the accounting department can reembolsar los gastos. Here, it translates more accurately as 'to reimburse'.

Culturally, the concept of a refund varies across the Spanish-speaking world. In Spain, for example, the 'derecho de desistimiento' (right of withdrawal) gives consumers 14 days to return online purchases and be reembolsados without explanation. In some Latin American countries, the process might be more bureaucratic, requiring the word 'reembolsar' to appear in formal written claims. The word itself carries a sense of formality and legal weight; you wouldn't typically use it when a friend pays you back five euros for a coffee—for that, you'd use 'devolver'. Use 'reembolsar' when the transaction involves a business, a bank, or an official expense report.

El seguro me va a reembolsar los medicamentos que compré ayer.

Financial Services: Banks use this term when discussing the repayment of loans or the reversal of unauthorized charges. If a hacker steals money from your account, the bank must reembolsar el saldo sustraído once the fraud is verified.

¿Cuándo me van a reembolsar el dinero del vuelo cancelado?

La universidad decidió reembolsar las tasas de matrícula a los alumnos becados.

In summary, 'reembolsar' is your go-to word for professional and commercial financial returns. It signifies a structured process of restitution. Whether you are dealing with a faulty gadget, a business trip, or an insurance claim, 'reembolsar' is the precise term that indicates money is flowing back to its rightful owner after an initial expenditure.

Using reembolsar correctly requires an understanding of Spanish sentence structure, particularly the use of direct and indirect object pronouns. Since 'reembolsar' involves moving an object (money) to a recipient (a person), it frequently appears with both. The standard pattern is: [Subject] + [Indirect Object Pronoun] + reembolsar + [Direct Object]. For example, 'La tienda me reembolsó el dinero' (The store refunded me the money). Here, 'me' is the person receiving the money, and 'el dinero' is the thing being returned.

Active Voice: This is the most common usage. The entity returning the money is the subject. 'La aerolínea reembolsará los billetes' (The airline will refund the tickets). Note that 'reembolsar' is a regular -ar verb, making its conjugation predictable in all tenses.

Mañana te reembolsarán el importe de la cena.

Passive with 'Se': In formal documents or signs, you will often see the 'se' passive. 'Se reembolsará el dinero en un plazo de diez días' (The money will be refunded within ten days). This removes the focus from who is doing the refunding and focuses on the action itself.

It is also important to distinguish between 'reembolsar' and the noun 'reembolso'. You will often hear the phrase 'pago contra reembolso', which means 'cash on delivery'—literally, payment against refund (or upon receipt). When using the verb, you can specify the reason for the refund using the preposition 'por'. For instance, 'Me reembolsaron por los daños causados' (They reimbursed me for the damages caused).

¿Es posible reembolsar una compra hecha con tarjeta de regalo?

The Imperative Mood: If you are demanding a refund, you might use the imperative: '¡Reembólseme el dinero ahora mismo!' (Refund my money right now!). This is quite strong and usually reserved for serious customer service disputes.

No pudieron reembolsar los gastos porque perdí los recibos.

Si cancelas con 24 horas de antelación, te reembolsamos el 100%.

Finally, consider the tense. In business, the future tense ('reembolsaremos') is used to provide guarantees, while the preterite ('reembolsó') is used to confirm that a transaction has been completed. Mastery of these patterns ensures that you can navigate financial interactions in Spanish-speaking environments with confidence and precision.

You will encounter reembolsar in a variety of real-world settings, ranging from the mundane to the highly professional. In everyday life, the most common place is at a 'Atención al Cliente' (Customer Service) desk in a department store like El Corte Inglés or Falabella. When a customer is dissatisfied, the conversation inevitably turns to whether the store can reembolsar el dinero or if they only offer 'vales de compra' (store credit).

E-commerce and Apps: If you use apps like Amazon, Mercado Libre, or Glovo in Spanish, the notifications regarding returns will always use this verb. You might see a message like: 'Hemos procedido a reembolsar su pedido'. This digital context is where most modern learners will first see the word in writing.

El vendedor se comprometió a reembolsar los gastos de envío.

Corporate and Office Life: In an office setting, 'reembolsar' is the standard verb for expense management. Employees discussing their travel to a conference will ask: '¿Cuándo me van a reembolsar los kilómetros?' (When are they going to reimburse me for the mileage?). It is a key word for anyone working in a Spanish-speaking corporate environment.

The travel industry is another major domain for this word. Following flight cancellations or hotel overbookings, travelers must often navigate 'políticas de reembolso'. Hearing a gate agent say, 'No podemos reembolsar el billete porque es una tarifa básica', is a common (if frustrating) experience. Similarly, insurance companies use 'reembolsar' when they pay back medical costs or repair bills that the policyholder paid upfront.

Para que te puedan reembolsar, debes presentar la factura original.

Legal and News Reports: In the news, you might hear about courts ordering a company to reembolsar millions of euros to affected consumers in a class-action lawsuit. In this context, the word carries the weight of legal restitution and justice.

El banco fue obligado a reembolsar las cláusulas suelo a sus clientes.

¿Sabe si la seguridad social me va a reembolsar este tratamiento?

Whether you are reading the fine print of a contract, listening to a customer service representative, or discussing finances with a colleague, 'reembolsar' is the professional standard for the return of funds. Its presence signals a formal, regulated, and official transaction.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make when using reembolsar is confusing it with the more general verb 'devolver'. While 'devolver' means 'to return' (anything from a book to a favor), 'reembolsar' is specifically for money. If you say 'Devuélveme el dinero', it’s perfectly correct and common in casual Spanish. However, if you say 'Reembólsame el libro', it sounds very strange, as if you want the person to put money back into the book's purse!

Direct vs. Indirect Objects: Learners often forget the indirect object pronoun. Since you are refunding money to someone, you need 'me', 'te', 'le', etc. Saying 'La tienda reembolsó el dinero' is grammatically okay but incomplete; 'La tienda me reembolsó el dinero' is much more natural.

Incorrecto: Voy a reembolsar la ropa. (You return clothes, but you refund money).

Confusing with 'Pagar': Some students use 'pagar' (to pay) when they mean 'reembolsar'. While refunding is a type of payment, 'reembolsar' specifically implies a reversal of a previous payment. Using 'pagar' in a refund situation can lead to confusion about whether it’s a new charge or a return of funds.

Another mistake involves the preposition. In English, we reimburse 'for' something. In Spanish, we 'reembolsamos los gastos' (direct object) or 'reembolsamos por los gastos'. The latter is common, but the direct object version is often preferred in formal writing. Also, avoid using 'reembolsar' for paying back a personal loan to a friend; 'devolver el dinero' or 'pagar la deuda' is much more appropriate for social interactions.

Correcto: La empresa me reembolsó los gastos del hotel.

Overusing the Verb: Sometimes learners use 'reembolsar' when they actually mean 'compensar' (to compensate). If a company gives you a free voucher because they made a mistake, that's not a 'reembolso' (since you didn't necessarily spend extra money), it's a 'compensación'.

Incorrecto: Me reembolsaron con un descuento del 10%. (They gave you a discount, not a refund).

Correcto: Te reembolsaremos el dinero si no estás satisfecho.

By avoiding these pitfalls—especially the confusion with 'devolver' and the omission of indirect objects—you will sound much more like a native speaker when handling financial matters in Spanish.

While reembolsar is the most precise term for a financial refund, Spanish offers several alternatives depending on the register and the specific situation. Understanding these nuances will help you choose the right word for the right context.

Devolver (el dinero): This is the most common and versatile alternative. In casual conversation, people almost always say '¿Me devuelves el dinero?' instead of '¿Me reembolsas?'. It is less formal but perfectly correct. Use it with friends, family, and in small shops.

El cajero me devolvió los diez euros del cambio mal dado.

Abonar: In banking and accounting, 'abonar' means to credit an account. If a store refunds you, they might say 'Le abonaremos el importe en su cuenta'. It implies the technical act of adding the balance back to your statement.

Another high-level synonym is resarcir. This is often used in legal contexts to mean 'to make amends' or 'to indemnify'. While 'reembolsar' is just about the money you spent, 'resarcir' might include extra money for the trouble caused. For example, 'La aerolínea me resarció por la pérdida de mi maleta' implies they did more than just refund a ticket; they compensated for the loss.

Es difícil resarcir el daño moral con dinero.

Restituir: This is a very formal word, often used in legal or historical contexts. It means to restore something to its original owner. 'Restituir los fondos' (to restore the funds) is a more elevated way of saying 'reembolsar'.

El tribunal ordenó restituir las tierras a sus antiguos dueños.

¿Prefiere que le abonemos el dinero o un vale?

Lastly, consider liquidar. While usually meaning 'to settle' or 'to sell off', in some business contexts, 'liquidar los gastos' can mean to finalize the reimbursement process. Choosing between these words depends on whether you are at a local market ('devolver'), writing a formal complaint ('reembolsar'), or in a courtroom ('resarcir' or 'restituir').

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The word 'bolsa' comes from the Greek 'byrsa' meaning 'hide' or 'leather', which is what purses were made of. So 'reembolsar' is literally 're-leathering' your money!

Pronunciation Guide

UK /re.em.bolˈsaɾ/

US /re.em.bolˈsaɾ/

The stress is on the last syllable: 'sar'.

Rhymes With

pasar llegar comprar hablar pensar ganar andar mirar

Common Errors

Pronouncing the double 'e' as a single 'e' (rembolsar).
Stress on the 'bol' instead of the 'sar'.
Using an English 'r' sound instead of the Spanish tap.
Mispronouncing 'bol' like English 'ball'.
Forgetting to pronounce the final 'r'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize in context due to 'bolsa' root.

Writing 3/5

Requires correct pronoun usage (me, te, le).

Speaking 3/5

The double 'e' can be tricky for fast speech.

Listening 2/5

Clear pronunciation makes it easy to hear.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

dinero bolsa pagar comprar tienda

Learn Next

resarcir restituir fianza importe factura

Advanced

malversación erario lucro cesante indemnización

Grammar to Know

Indirect Object Pronouns

Me reembolsan (to me), te reembolsan (to you).

Subjunctive with Requests

Pido que me reembolsen (I ask that they refund me).

Future Tense Formation

Reembolsaré, reembolsarás, reembolsará.

Passive 'Se'

Se reembolsará el dinero (The money will be refunded).

Infinitive with Pronouns

Deben reembolsármelo (They must refund it to me).

Examples by Level

La tienda no puede reembolsar el dinero.

The store cannot refund the money.

Simple present tense.

¿Me puede reembolsar los cinco euros?

Can you refund me the five euros?

Use of 'me' as indirect object.

Ellos reembolsan el dinero hoy.

They refund the money today.

Third person plural.

Quiero que me reembolsen el ticket.

I want them to refund my ticket.

Subjunctive used after 'querer que'.

El banco reembolsa el pago.

The bank refunds the payment.

Subject-verb agreement.

No es posible reembolsar sin el recibo.

It is not possible to refund without the receipt.

Infinitive after 'es posible'.

La señora reembolsa la compra.

The lady refunds the purchase.

Simple present.

Por favor, reembolse mi dinero.

Please, refund my money.

Formal imperative (usted).

Si el tren llega tarde, te reembolsan una parte.

If the train is late, they refund you a part.

Conditional 'si' clause (present).

Me reembolsaron el dinero ayer por la tarde.

They refunded me the money yesterday afternoon.

Preterite tense for completed action.

La empresa va a reembolsar mis gastos de viaje.

The company is going to reimburse my travel expenses.

'Ir a' + infinitive for future.

¿Te han reembolsado ya el importe de la cena?

Have they already refunded you the cost of the dinner?

Present perfect tense.

Podemos reembolsar el producto si está roto.

We can refund the product if it is broken.

Modal verb 'poder'.

El hotel no me reembolsó la fianza.

The hotel didn't refund my deposit.

Negative preterite.

Mañana nos reembolsarán el dinero de la excursión.

Tomorrow they will refund us the excursion money.

Future tense.

Tengo que pedir que me reembolsen.

I have to ask for a refund.

Subjunctive after 'pedir que'.

La aerolínea se niega a reembolsar los billetes cancelados.

The airline refuses to refund the cancelled tickets.

'Negarse a' + infinitive.

Si presentas la factura, te reembolsarán el IVA.

If you present the invoice, they will refund you the VAT.

Future tense in 'si' clause.

El seguro debería reembolsarme los gastos médicos.

The insurance should reimburse me for the medical expenses.

Conditional 'debería'.

He solicitado que me reembolsen el dinero en mi cuenta.

I have requested that they refund the money to my account.

Present perfect + subjunctive.

No me reembolsarán nada hasta que envíe el paquete.

They won't refund me anything until I send the package.

Future + 'hasta que' + subjunctive.

La política de la empresa es reembolsar los gastos en 30 días.

The company policy is to reimburse expenses in 30 days.

Infinitive as a noun phrase.

¿Sabe usted si me pueden reembolsar este medicamento?

Do you know if they can reimburse me for this medicine?

Formal 'usted' address.

Nos reembolsaron el importe íntegro por las molestias.

They refunded us the full amount for the inconvenience.

Use of 'íntegro' (full).

Es obligatorio que las compañías reembolsen en caso de huelga.

It is mandatory for companies to refund in case of a strike.

Impersonal expression + subjunctive.

Aunque el producto esté usado, deben reembolsarte si tiene un fallo.

Even if the product is used, they must refund you if it has a fault.

'Aunque' + subjunctive.

Si no me hubieran reembolsado, habría puesto una denuncia.

If they hadn't refunded me, I would have filed a complaint.

Past contrary-to-fact conditional (Si + pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo + condicional compuesto).

El cliente exigió que se le reembolsara de inmediato.

The customer demanded to be refunded immediately.

Imperfect subjunctive in a 'que' clause.

La ley obliga a reembolsar las cantidades cobradas indebidamente.

The law mandates the refund of amounts charged improperly.

Formal vocabulary ('indebidamente').

Dudo que vayan a reembolsar el dinero sin una prueba de compra.

I doubt they are going to refund the money without proof of purchase.

Subjunctive after 'dudar que'.

Se procederá a reembolsar el saldo restante al finalizar el contrato.

The remaining balance will be refunded upon termination of the contract.

Passive 'se' + future.

Para ser reembolsado, el usuario debe seguir el procedimiento.

To be refunded, the user must follow the procedure.

Passive infinitive.

La jurisprudencia actual obliga a los bancos a reembolsar las cláusulas abusivas.

Current case law obliges banks to refund abusive clauses.

Legal terminology ('jurisprudencia').

Resulta imperativo reembolsar los fondos malversados al erario público.

It is imperative to refund the embezzled funds to the public treasury.

Sophisticated vocabulary ('erario público').

De no reembolsar la deuda a tiempo, se aplicarán intereses de demora.

Failing to repay the debt on time will result in late interest charges.

'De' + infinitive as a conditional.

La entidad financiera se comprometió a reembolsar el capital invertido.

The financial institution committed to refunding the invested capital.

Formal commitment structure.

Cabe la posibilidad de que no se reembolsen los gastos no justificados.

There is a possibility that unjustified expenses will not be reimbursed.

'Cabe la posibilidad de que' + subjunctive.

El tribunal dictaminó que la empresa debía reembolsar a los afectados por daños y perjuicios.

The court ruled that the company had to reimburse those affected for damages.

Legal phrase 'daños y perjuicios'.

Se ha instado a la administración a reembolsar las tasas cobradas por error.

The administration has been urged to refund the fees charged by mistake.

Passive voice with 'instar'.

A pesar de las trabas, logramos que nos reembolsaran hasta el último céntimo.

Despite the hurdles, we managed to get them to refund us down to the last cent.

Concessive clause + causative 'lograr que'.

La restitución de lo sustraído implica reembolsar no solo el nominal, sino también el lucro cesante.

The restitution of what was stolen implies refunding not only the face value but also the lost profits.

Economic term 'lucro cesante'.

Sería una quimera pretender que el tiempo perdido se nos pueda reembolsar.

It would be a pipe dream to expect that lost time can be refunded to us.

Metaphorical usage.

La normativa comunitaria es taxativa en cuanto a la obligación de reembolsar en metálico.

EU regulations are categorical regarding the obligation to refund in cash.

High-level adjective 'taxativa'.

El fondo de garantía se encargará de reembolsar a los depositantes en caso de quiebra técnica.

The guarantee fund will be responsible for reimbursing depositors in the event of technical bankruptcy.

Technical financial context.

Cualquier intento de no reembolsar las cantidades debidas será perseguido de oficio.

Any attempt not to refund the amounts due will be prosecuted ex officio.

Legal term 'de oficio'.

La empresa procedió al reembolso prorrateado de las cuotas anuales tras el cese de actividad.

The company proceeded with the prorated refund of annual fees following the cessation of activity.

Noun 'reembolso' with sophisticated adjectives.

Resulta loable que la institución decida reembolsar de motu proprio los gastos adicionales.

It is commendable that the institution decides to reimburse the additional expenses of its own accord.

Latinism 'de motu proprio'.

No existe mecanismo legal que permita reembolsar el daño reputacional sufrido.

There is no legal mechanism that allows for the reimbursement of the reputational damage suffered.

Abstract concept of 'reembolsar'.

Common Collocations

reembolsar el importe

reembolsar los gastos

reembolsar íntegramente

derecho a reembolsar

reembolsar mediante transferencia

obligación de reembolsar

reembolsar el exceso

reembolsar la fianza

reembolsar los intereses

plazo para reembolsar

Common Phrases

pago contra reembolso

— Cash on delivery. You pay when you receive the item.

Pedí el paquete contra reembolso.

gastos reembolsables

— Expenses that will be paid back to you.

Estos son gastos reembolsables por la empresa.

solicitar un reembolso

— To ask for a refund formally.

He solicitado un reembolso por el vuelo.

política de reembolsos

— The rules a store has for giving money back.

Lee la política de reembolsos antes de comprar.

reembolso inmediato

— A refund that happens right away.

Ofrecemos reembolso inmediato en tienda.

sin derecho a reembolso

— Non-refundable; you won't get your money back.

Esta tarifa es sin derecho a reembolso.

reembolso parcial

— Getting only part of your money back.

Me hicieron un reembolso parcial del 50%.

formulario de reembolso

— A paper or online form to request a refund.

Rellena el formulario de reembolso en la web.

reembolsar en efectivo

— To refund in physical cash.

No podemos reembolsar en efectivo, solo con tarjeta.

reembolso de impuestos

— A tax refund from the government.

Estoy esperando el reembolso de impuestos de este año.

Often Confused With

reembolsar vs devolver

Devolver is for general objects; reembolsar is only for money.

reembolsar vs pagar

Pagar is to pay; reembolsar is to pay back what was spent.

reembolsar vs compensar

Compensar can involve non-monetary things; reembolsar is strictly monetary.

Idioms & Expressions

"reembolsar con la misma moneda"

— To pay someone back in their own coin; to treat someone as they treated you (usually negatively).

Él fue grosero, y ella le reembolsó con la misma moneda.

Colloquial

"no tener con qué reembolsar"

— To be broke; to have no way of paying back a debt.

Quisiera pagarte, pero no tengo con qué reembolsar.

Neutral

"reembolsar hasta el último céntimo"

— To refund every single cent; to be very thorough in restitution.

Te voy a reembolsar hasta el último céntimo, lo prometo.

Neutral

"reembolsar el favor"

— To return a favor (less common than 'devolver el favor', but understood).

Algún día te reembolsaré este favor.

Formal

"reembolso de gratitud"

— A metaphorical return of gratitude.

Mis palabras son un pequeño reembolso de gratitud.

Literary

"reembolsar con creces"

— To pay back much more than what was received; to be very generous in return.

La vida le reembolsó sus esfuerzos con creces.

Formal/Literary

"reembolsar el golpe"

— To strike back; to retaliate physically or verbally.

No pudo evitar reembolsar el golpe a su rival.

Informal

"reembolsar la confianza"

— To prove worthy of trust; to return the trust given to you.

Espero reembolsar la confianza que han puesto en mí.

Formal

"reembolsar el tiempo"

— To make up for lost time.

Nada puede reembolsar el tiempo que no estuvimos juntos.

Literary

"reembolso de vida"

— A poetic way to talk about karmic returns or life's rewards.

Sus hijos son su mejor reembolso de vida.

Poetic

Easily Confused

reembolsar vs reembolsar

Sounds like 'reimburse'.

In Spanish, it covers both 'refund' (from a store) and 'reimburse' (from a job).

La tienda me reembolsó.

reembolsar vs abonar

Both involve money in accounts.

Abonar is the technical act of crediting; reembolsar is the act of returning spent money.

Le abonamos el reembolso.

reembolsar vs liquidar

Both used in business expenses.

Liquidar means to finalize the whole report; reembolsar is the actual act of paying back.

Liquidamos la cuenta y me reembolsaron.

reembolsar vs resarcir

Both mean getting money back.

Resarcir usually includes extra for damages; reembolsar is just the original amount.

Me resarcieron por el accidente.

reembolsar vs restituir

Both mean returning.

Restituir is more about property or legal rights; reembolsar is specifically cash/funds.

Restituyeron el cuadro, no el dinero.

Sentence Patterns

No + reembolsar

No reembolsar.

Me + reembolsaron + [money]

Me reembolsaron diez euros.

[Company] + va a + reembolsar + [expenses]

La empresa va a reembolsar los gastos.

Es justo que + [subjunctive]

Es justo que me reembolsen.

Proceder a + reembolsar

Procederemos a reembolsar el capital.

Obligar a + reembolsar

La ley obliga a reembolsar las tasas.

Reembolso + prorrateado

Se hizo un reembolso prorrateado.

Reembolsar + de oficio

El estado reembolsará de oficio.

Word Family

Nouns

reembolso (refund)

bolsa (bag/purse/stock market)

bolsillo (pocket)

desembolso (outlay/expenditure)

Verbs

embolsar (to pocket money)

desembolsar (to shell out money)

bolsear (to pickpocket - regional)

Adjectives

reembolsable (refundable)

bolsista (related to the stock market)

bolsudo (baggy)

bolso

chequera

factura

recibo

abono

How to Use It

frequency

High in professional and commercial settings.

Common Mistakes

Rembolsar → Reembolsar
Missing the second 'e'. It's 're-' plus 'embolsar'.
Reembolsar el libro → Devolver el libro
You can't refund a physical object, only the money for it.
La tienda reembolsó el dinero. → La tienda me reembolsó el dinero.
Usually needs an indirect object to say who got the money.
Reembolsar de los gastos → Reembolsar los gastos
The expenses are the direct object; 'de' is not needed.
Me reembolsaron con un regalo. → Me compensaron con un regalo.
A refund is money. A gift is compensation.

Tips

Pronoun Placement

When using an infinitive like 'reembolsar', you can put the pronoun at the end: '¿Puede reembolsarme?' or before the conjugated verb: '¿Me puede reembolsar?'

The Noun Form

Don't forget the noun 'el reembolso'. You will see this on signs and websites more often than the verb.

Be Patient

In some Spanish-speaking countries, a 'reembolso' can take time. Use the future tense to ask for a date: '¿Cuándo me reembolsarán?'

Double E

Remember the double 'e'. It comes from 're-' and 'em-'. It's not 'rembolsar'.

Expense Reports

If you work in a Spanish office, 'reembolsar gastos' is the standard phrase for getting your money back.

Check the Fine Print

Always look for 'tarifa no reembolsable' when booking flights; it means no money back if you cancel.

Know Your Rights

In the EU, you have a right to be 'reembolsado' for cancelled flights. Use the word 'reembolsar' in your claim.

Money Only

Keep 'reembolsar' for money. Use 'devolver' for the physical shirt you are taking back.

Stress the End

The stress is on 'sar'. Practice: re-em-bol-SAR.

Use Devolver

If you forget 'reembolsar', 'devolver el dinero' will always work and sounds very natural.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'RE-EM-BOLSA'. RE (Return) + EM (Into) + BOLSA (Purse). Return into purse!

Visual Association

Imagine a hand putting coins back into a leather pouch or a digital arrow pointing back into a wallet icon.

Word Web

dinero banco tienda recibo tarjeta gastos viaje seguro

Challenge

Try to use 'reembolsar' in a sentence today when talking about a return or a work expense.

Word Origin

From the Latin prefix 're-' (back/again) combined with 'en-' (in) and 'bolsa' (purse).

Original meaning: To put money back into a purse or bag.

Romance (Spanish).

Cultural Context

Be polite when asking for a 'reembolso'; using the formal 'usted' is recommended.

In English, we use 'refund' for stores and 'reimburse' for jobs. Spanish uses 'reembolsar' for both.

Consumer protection laws in Spain (Ley General para la Defensa de los Consumidores). Mercado Libre refund policies. Iberia Airlines cancellation terms.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Shopping

Quiero un reembolso.
¿Pueden reembolsarme?
Sin recibo no hay reembolso.
Reembolso en tarjeta.

Work

Nota de gastos.
Reembolsar el kilometraje.
Gastos de viaje.
Liquidación de gastos.

Travel

Vuelo cancelado.
Billete no reembolsable.
Reembolso de tasas.
Seguro de viaje.

Banking

Cargos no autorizados.
Reembolsar el saldo.
Abono en cuenta.
Transferencia de reembolso.

Legal

Daños y perjuicios.
Reembolsar a las víctimas.
Orden judicial.
Restitución de fondos.

Conversation Starters

"¿Alguna vez has tenido problemas para que una tienda te reembolse el dinero?"

"¿Crees que las aerolíneas deberían reembolsar siempre los vuelos cancelados?"

"¿Cómo funciona el proceso para reembolsar gastos en tu empresa?"

"¿Prefieres un vale de compra o que te reembolsen el dinero en efectivo?"

"¿Has pedido alguna vez un reembolso por una aplicación que no funcionaba?"

Journal Prompts

Escribe sobre una vez que tuviste que luchar para que te reembolsaran algo que compraste.

Imagina que eres el dueño de una tienda. ¿Cuál sería tu política para reembolsar productos usados?

Describe el proceso de reembolsar gastos de viaje en un trabajo ideal.

¿Por qué crees que es importante que existan leyes que obliguen a reembolsar dinero por productos defectuosos?

Escribe una carta formal a una empresa solicitando que te reembolsen un servicio que no recibiste.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Reembolsar is used specifically for returning money that was spent or lost. Devolver is a general verb that can be used for money, but also for books, clothes, or favors. Reembolsar is more formal.

It's understandable but rare. Usually, we say 'devolver un favor'. Reembolsar is almost always about cash.

Yes, it follows the standard -ar conjugation pattern (reembolso, reembolsas, reembolsa, etc.).

It means 'Cash on Delivery'. You pay for the item when it arrives at your door.

You say 'no reembolsable'. It is very common in airline ticket descriptions.

Use 'me reembolsan' for things that happen generally or in the future ('They refund me'). Use 'me reembolsaron' for something that already happened ('They refunded me yesterday').

Yes, if the money is coming to you, the indirect object pronoun 'me' is necessary for a natural sentence.

It sounds too formal. For friends, use 'devolver el dinero' or 'pagar lo que te debo'.

It is a 'tax refund', money the government gives back if you paid too much tax.

You can say: 'Quisiera solicitar un reembolso, por favor' or '¿Sería posible reembolsar el importe?'