tonificar
verbCEFR B1
What does “tonificar” mean in English?
to tone
to tone (develop muscular definition and firmness without major bulk increase) — tonificar los brazos, tonificar el abdomen
Example sentences
Para tonificar sin aumentar demasiado de volumen, los entrenadores recomiendan hacer más repeticiones con menos peso y descansar menos entre series.
To tone without gaining too much bulk, trainers recommend doing more repetitions with less weight and resting less between sets.
Después de tres meses de pilates, se siente más tonificada y con mejor postura, aunque no ha perdido ni ganado peso.
After three months of Pilates, she feels more toned and with better posture, even though she has neither lost nor gained weight.
How to use it
Tonificar means 'to tone' in the fitness sense — to develop muscular definition without significantly increasing bulk. It takes a direct object (tonificar el abdomen, tonificar los brazos) or is used reflexively (tonificarse). The past participle tonificado / tonificada functions as a common adjective (estar tonificado = to be toned).
Common mistake
Tonificar and fortalecer are both about muscle development but are not synonyms: fortalecer focuses on power and function; tonificar focuses on aesthetic definition and firmness. Using tonificar when talking about power training (weightlifting for strength) sounds incongruous — use fortalecer.