preservar
verbCEFR B2
What does “preservar” mean in English?
to preserve, to protect
to preserve, to protect (preservar + noun — prevent deterioration; formal, especially in environmental/heritage contexts)
Example sentences
Las autoridades adoptaron medidas urgentes para preservar los ecosistemas costeros amenazados.
The authorities took urgent measures to preserve the coastal ecosystems under threat.
Es fundamental preservar la memoria histórica para que las generaciones futuras aprendan del pasado.
It is fundamental to preserve historical memory so that future generations learn from the past.
How to use it
Preservar means 'to preserve' or 'to protect from harm'. More formal than proteger in environmental and heritage contexts. Collocations: preservar el medio ambiente, preservar la biodiversidad, preservar el patrimonio cultural. Structure: preservar + noun (direct object).
Common mistake
Preservar (protect from deterioration — formal) vs. conservar (conserve/keep — wider everyday use). In environmental and heritage contexts, preservar is preferred; in everyday contexts ('I kept the leftovers'), conservar or guardar work better.