enfrentarse
verbCEFR B2High frequency
What does “enfrentarse” mean in English?
to confront, to face
to confront, to face (enfrentarse a — reflexive; direct engagement with a challenge or reality)
Example sentences
El equipo se enfrenta a uno de los mayores desafíos de su historia: renovar la plantilla sin perder la competitividad.
The team faces one of the greatest challenges in its history: renewing the squad without losing competitiveness.
Todos en algún momento de su vida se enfrentan a decisiones que no tienen una respuesta claramente correcta.
Everyone at some point in their life faces decisions that have no clearly correct answer.
La empresa se enfrentó a una demanda colectiva de sus trabajadores tras revelarse las condiciones de trabajo.
The company was confronted with a collective lawsuit from its workers after working conditions were revealed.
How to use it
Enfrentarse (a) means 'to confront', 'to face', or 'to deal with'. It is always reflexive. The preposition is a: enfrentarse a un problema (face a problem), enfrentarse a la realidad (confront reality), enfrentarse a los hechos (face the facts). It implies direct, often difficult engagement with something — more confrontational than abordar (to approach/tackle) or afrontar (to face/deal with — near-synonym). Key at B2 because it appears in formal discourse about challenges, crises, and complex decisions.
Common mistake
Enfrentarse a (confront/face) vs. afrontar (face/deal with — near-synonym): enfrentarse a is slightly more adversarial and confrontational; afrontar is more neutral and can imply a more measured handling. Both are correct in most B2 contexts, and both are high-frequency. Also: don't drop the reflexive se — *enfrenta el problema is incorrect; the correct form is el problema se enfrenta (the problem is faced/approached) only in passive constructions.