"apretar" and "empujar" question about their meaning

[Keats]

In Spanish 3 the verb apretar is translated as "to press" or " to push". I've heard it used to mean "to squeeze" and empujar used for "to push". Is this a local or cultural difference?

[Emilie Poyet]

Hi Keats, sorry for not seeing this post before! it' is true that Apretar can have several meanings, it doesn't have anything to do with local or cultural differences but just on different meanings that the same verb can have, depending on context. If you're referring to "apretar una tecla", it translates as "to press a key". It can also translate as "to push" if you're referring to a switch or a button "apretar un botón", but you can also use it as to squeeze, as in squeezing something inside your hand... Like in English, it's one of these words that can translate different ideas depending on context. Hope this clarifies your doubt. Enjoy the rest of the program!