Spanish vocabulary · Intermediate
How to Say Surrender in Spanish: Rendirse
Rendirse · verb · rehn-DEER-seh
Surrender in Spanish is rendirse (to give up or yield), a reflexive verb used in both military and everyday motivational contexts.
Rendirse is rehn-DEER-seh, three syllables with stress on DEER.
Nunca me voy a rendir hasta lograr mi objetivo.
I will never surrender until I achieve my goal.
Surrender in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for surrender, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| rendirse | surrender | rehn-DEER-seh | Default, widely understood |
| entregarse | surrender | to turn oneself in or give oneself up | |
| capitular | surrender | formal military surrender |
How Native Speakers Use Rendirse
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Motivational context
No te rindas, ya casi terminas la carrera.
Don't surrender, you're almost done with the race.
Encouragement during difficulty.
Historical event
El ejército se rindió después de meses de asedio.
The army surrendered after months of siege.
Historical or military context.
Giving up to authorities
El sospechoso se entregó a la policía voluntariamente.
The suspect surrendered to the police voluntarily.
Using entregarse for turning oneself in.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Rendirse
Forgetting the reflexive
Incorrect: El soldado rindió.
Correct: El soldado se rindió.
Rendirse (to surrender) is reflexive; rendir without se means to produce results or to perform.
Stem change error
Incorrect: No te rendas.
Correct: No te rindas.
Rendirse has an e-to-i stem change in subjunctive: rindas, not rendas.
Lock in Surrender Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Rendirse used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using rendirse in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Nunca me voy a rendir hasta lograr mi objetivo. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
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Common Questions About Surrender in Spanish
- How do you say surrender in Spanish?
- The reflexive verb rendirse means to surrender or give up, while entregarse specifically means to turn oneself in to authorities, and capitular is used for formal military capitulation.
- How do you say don't give up in Spanish?
- The expression is no te rindas (informal) or no se rinda (formal), using the negative subjunctive form of rendirse.
- What is the difference between rendirse and entregarse?
- Rendirse means to stop fighting or give up effort, while entregarse specifically implies physically turning oneself over to someone else's control, often used when surrendering to police.