Do velar and desvelar mean the same thing?
I thought "des" usually meant "un"? But in the news "Argentina vela hoy al ex presidente Néstor Kirchner." What if you said "Argentina desvela hoy al ex presidente Néstor Kirchner.
What does velar even mean in that sentence? Doesn't seem like "keep a watch over" there. Argenina today awaits ex presidente Nestor Kirchner.... can keep a watch over mean like...... waits for? I thought if was like cuidar de...... keep a watch over = keep from harm. I don't know.
3 Answers
The ordinary meaning of desvelar is to keep awake. El café desvela. A vela (noun) is similar to a "wake" in some parts of the English speaking world. Here in Nicaragua there are usually tables and chairs and awnings set up on the street. Friends gather there in honor of one who has died. The mood is neither cheerful nor excessively solemn. Often the men play cards. There's something to eat and drink. Velar means to look after, take care of: your health, your children, etc. Perhaps the best translation of "Argentina vela hoy a Kirchner" would be "Argentina remembering Kirchner today."
Velar = tu rezas/vigilas por el difunto. Viene a significar que das tus condolencias (condolence)
Desvelar = No dejas/puedes dormir.
It means the following:
Today, Argentina mourns former president Néstor Kirchner.
velar comes from staying awake the whole night mourning the dead.
