inflar
verbCEFR B2
What does “inflar” mean in English?
to inflate, to distort upwards
to inflate, to distort upwards (inflar los beneficios/precios — exaggerate or artificially increase a figure or value)
Example sentences
Los auditores descubrieron que la empresa había inflado artificialmente sus beneficios para atraer inversores.
The auditors discovered that the company had artificially inflated its profits to attract investors.
No conviene inflar las expectativas antes de conocer los resultados definitivos de los ensayos clínicos.
It is unwise to inflate expectations before knowing the definitive results of the clinical trials.
El globo se infló rápidamente hasta alcanzar el tamaño suficiente para volar sobre la ciudad.
The balloon inflated rapidly until it reached a size large enough to fly over the city.
How to use it
Inflar means 'to inflate' — literally (inflar un globo — inflate a balloon) or figuratively (inflar los precios/los beneficios — inflate prices/profits artificially). At B2, the figurative sense in economic and ethical contexts is most important: inflar las cifras, inflar los costes, inflar el ego (boost someone's ego). The reflexive inflarse can describe swelling (physical) or self-inflation (becoming puffed up). Don't confuse with aumentar (increase — neutral) or exagerar (exaggerate — in speech).
Common mistake
Inflar (inflate artificially/dishonestly) vs. aumentar (increase — neutral). 'Los precios aumentaron' (prices went up — neutral fact); 'inflaron los precios' (they inflated prices — deliberately and arguably unfairly). The moral/manipulative connotation in the figurative sense is important.