abordar
verbCEFR B2
What does “abordar” mean in English?
to tackle, to address
to tackle, to address (to deal substantively with a problem or topic; abordar un problema/tema)
Example sentences
Antes de abordar las soluciones, es imprescindible entender bien cuáles son las causas del problema.
Before tackling the solutions, it is essential to properly understand what the causes of the problem are.
El informe aborda el problema de la desigualdad desde una perspectiva puramente estadística, ignorando la experiencia vivida.
The report addresses the problem of inequality from a purely statistical perspective, ignoring lived experience.
No basta con abordar el tema de forma superficial; se necesita un análisis riguroso y sistemático.
It isn't enough to address the topic superficially; a rigorous and systematic analysis is needed.
How to use it
Abordar means 'to tackle', 'to address', or 'to approach' a problem or topic. It is a highly productive verb in formal discourse: abordar una cuestión/un problema/un tema/una crisis. Unlike enfoque (the noun: the angle taken), abordar is the verb: the act of taking up and dealing with something. At B2 it is used to frame methodological choices ('antes de abordar X, conviene…') and to evaluate whether something has been dealt with properly ('el informe no aborda este aspecto'). Entirely regular, -ar conjugation.
Common mistake
Abordar is often confused with el enfoque (the noun). 'Cómo se aborda el problema' = how the problem is tackled (verb). 'El enfoque del problema' = the angle/framework applied (noun). Also: abordar doesn't mean merely 'to mention' (mencionar) — it implies actually dealing with something substantively. A common discourse error is saying 'el informe menciona' when the writer means the report deals with it fully (= aborda).