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

Part of Speech

sembrar - Verb

Phonetic Transcription

/semˈbɾaɾ/

Translation Options into English

• to sow
• to plant
• to seed
• to instill

Meaning and Usage

sembrar is a transitive verb commonly used in Spanish that means to sow seeds or to plant. It can refer to the literal act of planting seeds in the earth for growing crops. Additionally, it has a figurative meaning in terms of instilling ideas, values, or emotions in someone.

In the context of agriculture, it is frequently used in rural areas but is also understood in urban contexts related to gardening or environmental discussions. The word is commonly used in both oral and written language, with a slightly higher frequency in written contexts due to agricultural literature, cooking, and discussions involving cultivation.

Example Sentences

1. Sembrar un jardín es una actividad muy gratificante.
   Sowing a garden is a very rewarding activity.

2. El agricultor decide sembrar maíz en esta temporada.
   The farmer decides to plant corn this season.

3. Es importante sembrar buenas ideas en la mente de los niños.
   It is important to instill good ideas in children's minds.

Idiomatic Expressions

The verb sembrar is often found in idiomatic expressions in Spanish that convey metaphorical meanings. Below are some examples:

1. Sembrar dudas

2. La noticia que escuché logró sembrar dudas en mi mente.
   The news I heard managed to sow doubts in my mind.

3. Sembrar la discordia

4. Su comentario solo sirvió para sembrar la discordia entre los amigos.
   His comment only served to sow discord among friends.

5. Sembrar el miedo

6. El cambio de gobierno comenzó a sembrar el miedo en la población.
   The change of government began to instill fear in the population.

7. Sembrar la esperanza

8. La fundación trabaja para sembrar la esperanza en comunidades desfavorecidas.
   The foundation works to instill hope in disadvantaged communities.

9. Sembrar la paz

10. La misión de la ONU es sembrar la paz en las regiones en conflicto.
    The mission of the UN is to sow peace in conflict regions.

Etymology

The verb sembrar comes from the Latin word “seminare”, which also means to sow or plant, derived from “semina”, meaning seed. This reflects its agricultural roots, emphasizing the act of planting seeds.

Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms: - plantar (to plant) - cultivar (to cultivate) - sembrar (to sow)

Antonyms: - cosechar (to harvest) - destruir (to destroy)

This comprehensive look at the term sembrar illustrates its significance in both literal agricultural contexts and metaphorical applications in the Spanish language.