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"Abatir" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to shoot down", and "tumbar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to knock down". Learn more about the difference between "abatir" and "tumbar" below.
abatir(
ah
-
bah
-
teer
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to down)
a. to shoot down
Las baterías antiaéreas abatieron al caza.The anti-aircraft guns shot down the fighter.
b. to bring down
El Spitfire abatió dos bombarderos alemanes.The Spitfire brought down two German bombers.
a. to knock down
La casa fue abatida con una bola de demolición.The house was knocked down with a wrecking ball.
b. to demolish
El viejo edificio fue abatido con explosivos.The old building was demolished with explosives.
3. (to chop)
a. to cut down
Si necesitas más leña, puedes abatir ese árbol.If you need more firewood, you can cut down that tree.
4. (figurative) (to defeat)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
a. to take down
Un francotirador de la policía abatió al hombre que tenía al rehén.A police sniper took down the man holding the hostage.
a. to depress
La derrota frente a Inglaterra abatió al equipo.Their defeat against England depressed the team.
b. to get down
¡Ánimo! No te dejes abatir por una mala noticia.Cheer up! Don't let bad news get you down.
6. (to weaken)
a. to lay low
La infección pulmonar lo abatió y tuvo que guardar cama.The pulmonary infection laid him low and he had to stay in bed.
a. to take down
Los boy scouts abatieron la tienda de campaña y comenzaron a desayunar.The boy scouts took down the tent and started eating breakfast.
abatirse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to get depressed
Ana es una mujer fuerte y no va a abatirse por la pérdida de su casa.Ana is a strong woman and won't get depressed over losing her house.
9. (to plunge)
a. to swoop down
El Stuka se abatió y largó una bomba sobre el barco.The Stuka swooped down and dropped a bomb on the ship.
tumbar(
toom
-
bahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to topple)
a. to knock down
Martín tumbó al matón con un puñetazo rápido en la mandíbula.Martin knocked the bully down with a quick punch to the jaw.
b. to kick down (using one's foot)
Como sus hijos no le permitían entrar en casa, tumbó la puerta.Because his children wouldn't let him into the house, he kicked down the door.
c. to knock over
El hedor de la comida podrida casi me tumbó.The stench of the rotting food almost knocked me over.
d. to demolish
Tumbaron el teatro abandonado para construir un aparcamiento para el restaurante de al lado.They demolished the abandoned theater to build a parking lot for the restaurant next door.
2. (to chop down a tree) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to cut down
El ayuntamiento tiene proyectado tumbar unos eucaliptos en lo alto de la montaña.The town council is planning to cut down some eucalyptus trees at the top of the mountain.
b. to fell
Los leñadores pasaron la tarde entera tumbando árboles para la papelera.The lumberjacks spent the entire afternoon felling trees for the paper mill.
3. (colloquial) (to kill) (Colombia)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Colombia
b. to bump off (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
La mafia lo tumbó por no pagar sus deudas.The mob bumped him off for not paying his debts.
c. to do in (colloquial) (figurative)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
Seguro que tu padre te va a tumbar si llegas tarde de nuevo a casa esta noche.Your dad's going to do you in if you come home late again tonight.
4. (colloquial) (education) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
a. to fail
Los profesores lo tumbaron en álgebra y tuvo que repetir curso.The teachers failed him in algebra, and he had to repeat the course.
b. to flunk (colloquial) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United States
Si no entregas tu ensayo final, te tumbaré.If you don't submit your final paper, I'm going to flunk you.
tumbarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
5. (to recline)
a. to lie down
Tengo dolor cabeza, así que me voy a tumbar por una hora.I have a headache, so I am going to lie down for an hour.
b. to stretch out
Tengo muchas ganas de tumbarme y dormir en mi hamaca todo el fin de semana.I look forward to stretching out and sleeping in my hammock all weekend.
