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

Part of Speech

Verb

Phonetic Transcription

/m.a.t͡ʃaˈkaɾ/

Translation Options into English

1. To crush
2. To mash
3. To grind
4. To beat (someone)

Meaning and Usage

"Machacar" is a versatile verb in Spanish primarily used to denote the action of crushing or mashing something, whether it's food (like potatoes), or metaphorically, it can mean to beat someone, often in a competitive context. This verb is commonly used in both oral and written forms, though it may appear more frequently in informal, conversational speech when referring to food preparation or competitive situations.

Example Sentences

1. Machacar los ajos antes de añadirlos a la salsa.

2. Translation: Crush the garlic before adding it to the sauce.

3. Los niños estaban machacando las hojas secas en el jardín.

4. Translation: The children were crushing the dry leaves in the garden.

5. Ella quiere machacar a sus competidoras en el torneo de ajedrez.

6. Translation: She wants to crush her competitors in the chess tournament.

Idiomatic Expressions

"Machacar" appears in various idiomatic expressions, often conveying a sense of forcefulness or thoroughness in an action.

1. Machacar a alguien – to defeat someone decisively.
2. Ejemplo: "El nuevo equipo ha machacado a todos sus oponentes en la liga."

3. Translation: "The new team has crushed all its opponents in the league."

4. Machacar la cabeza – to drive someone crazy or to overwhelm someone with information.

5. Ejemplo: "No me machaques la cabeza con tantos detalles; solo dímelo en resumen."

6. Translation: "Don't crush my head with so many details; just tell me the summary."

7. Machacar una meta – to achieve a goal with great effort.

8. Ejemplo: "Después de meses de trabajo duro, finalmente machacamos nuestra meta de ventas."

9. Translation: "After months of hard work, we finally crushed our sales goal."

10. Machacar el ánimo – to demoralize or destroy someone's spirit.

11. Ejemplo: "Las críticas constantes pueden machacar el ánimo de cualquier artista."
12. Translation: "Constant criticism can crush the spirit of any artist."

Etymology

The verb "machacar" comes from the Latin word "mānsuāre," which means to soften or to make gentle. Over time, it evolved in Spanish to encompass the actions of crushing and mashing.

Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms: - Aplastar (to flatten) - Triturar (to grind) - Desmenuzar (to crumble)

Antonyms: - Reforzar (to strengthen) - Construir (to build) - Mantener (to maintain)