acicalarse (spanish) - meaning, definition, translation, pronunciation

Part of Speech

Verb

Phonetic Transcription

/asi.kaˈlaɾ.se/

Translation Options into English

• To groom oneself
• To get ready
• To spruce up

Meaning and Usage

"Acicalarse" is a reflexive verb in Spanish that means to groom oneself, to prepare or tidy oneself up for an event or occasion, often emphasizing personal appearance. This verb is frequently used in contexts that involve personal care, such as dressing well, doing hair, or applying makeup. It can be found in both oral and written contexts, but is more commonly used in spoken Spanish.

Example Sentences

• Sentence: Siempre me acicalo antes de salir a una cita.
  Translation: I always groom myself before going out on a date.

• Sentence: Ella se acicala todos los días antes de ir al trabajo.
  Translation: She spruces herself up every day before going to work.

• Sentence: Los actores deben acicalarse bien antes de entrar al escenario.
  Translation: Actors must groom themselves well before going on stage.

Idiomatic Expressions

Although "acicalarse" itself may not be part of many idiomatic expressions, it relates closely to themes of grooming, presentation, and care for appearance. Here are some phrases where grooming or readiness is emphasized:

• Expression: "Acicalarse para impresionar"
  Sentence: Es importante acicalarse para impresionar a los posibles empleadores durante la entrevista.
  Translation: It is important to groom oneself to impress potential employers during the interview.

• Expression: "Acicalarse bien"
  Sentence: Si quieres causar una buena impresión, acicalarte bien es fundamental.
  Translation: If you want to make a good impression, grooming yourself well is essential.

• Expression: "Acicalarse antes de la fiesta"
  Sentence: Nos acicalamos antes de la fiesta para lucir simplemente perfectas.
  Translation: We groomed ourselves before the party to look simply perfect.

• Expression: "Acicalarse por dentro y por fuera"
  Sentence: La verdadera belleza viene de acicalarse por dentro y por fuera.
  Translation: True beauty comes from grooming oneself inside and out.

Etymology

The word "acicalarse" comes from the Spanish word "cical," which relates to grooming or tidiness. The prefix "a-" often implies the action of doing something in this context. The root itself has connections to related terms involving care for appearance.

Synonyms

• Asearse (to clean oneself)
• Juntarse (to tidy up)

Antonyms

• Desarreglarse (to let oneself go)
• Descuidarse (to neglect oneself)

This comprehensive analysis provides an overview of the word "acicalarse," its usage in various contexts, and its relevance in everyday conversation.