empeño

determination

el empeño(ehm-peh-nyoh)

masculine noun

1. (resolve)

a. determination

A pesar de todo su empeño, nunca logró convertirse en campeón.

Despite all his determination, he never managed to become champion.

Debido a su empeño, Martín y María fueron aceptados en MIT.

Due to their determination, Martin and Maria were accepted to MIT.

b. effort

Como no es de familia bien relacionada, solo pudo hacerse presidente por su tremendo empeño.

Since he didn't come from a well-connected family, he only managed to become president through tremendous effort.

2. (obstinacy)

a. insistence

¿Por qué tanto empeño en ocultar los hechos del pasado, Sr. Campos? ¿Por qué no quiere que salga a la luz la verdad?

Why the insistence on hiding the past, Mr. Campos? Why don't you want the truth to come to light?

3. (loan with collateral)

a. pawn

Sabía que no podría pagar el alquiler sin el empeño del anillo de su madre.

She knew she wouldn't be able to pay the rent without the pawn of her mother's ring.

b. pawning

Con el empeño de su computadora, por fin tuvo suficiente dinero para comprar el carro.

With the pawning of his computer, he finally had enough money to buy the car.

4. (attempt)

a. undertaking

Compró la mansión para renovarla, pero el empeño acabó siendo más difícil de lo que esperaba.

He bought the mansion to renovate it, but the undertaking ended up being more difficult than he expected.