suplicar
verbCEFR B1
What does “suplicar” mean in English?
to implore, to beg desperately
to implore, to beg desperately (suplicar que + subjunctive — elevated emotional register)
Example sentences
Le suplicó entre lágrimas que no se marchara y que le diera una última oportunidad para explicarse.
She begged him with tears in her eyes not to leave and to give her one last chance to explain herself.
Los residentes suplican que las autoridades tomen medidas urgentes para solucionar el problema del ruido.
Residents are imploring the authorities to take urgent measures to solve the noise problem.
Me suplican que no publique el artículo, pero ya es demasiado tarde para retirarlo.
They're begging me not to publish the article, but it's too late to pull it now.
How to use it
Suplicar means 'to implore' or 'to beg desperately' — it conveys more emotional intensity than rogar. It follows the same pattern: suplicar que + subjunctive with different subjects. Like rogar, it has o→ue stem change in stressed forms: suplico, suplicas, suplica, suplicamos, suplicáis, suplican. Suplicar is used in emotionally charged or literary contexts and is generally avoided in casual speech, where pedir or rogar would be preferred.
Common mistake
Suplicar is more intense than rogar and sounds unnatural in everyday conversation — it belongs in formal writing, literary narrative, or emotionally heightened situations. The subjunctive trigger rule is the same as rogar: suplicar que + subjunctive when subjects differ. Do not confuse the intensity scale: pedir (neutral request) < rogar (polite plea) < suplicar (desperate imploring).