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"Aflojar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to loosen", and "estirar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to stretch". Learn more about the difference between "aflojar" and "estirar" below.
aflojar(
ah
-
floh
-
hahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to relax
Hay que aflojar las reglas para que puedan entrar más refugiados en el país.We need to relax the rules so that more refugees can enter the country.
3. (colloquial) (to hand money over)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to part with
Susana no aflojó ni un centavo para la fiesta de Halloween.Susana didn't part with a single cent for the Halloween party.
b. to fork out (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Hemos aflojado grandes cantidades de dinero para salvar la tienda.We've forked out large sums of money to save our shop.
c. to cough up (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Ojalá que el banco afloje el dinero para mi crédito.Let's hope the bank coughs up the money for my loan.
a. to slow down
Lucía aflojó el paso en los últimos kilómetros de la carrera.Lucia slowed down her pace in the last few kilometers of the race.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to ease off (storm, rain, snow)
Llovió el día entero hasta que la tormenta por fin aflojó durante la noche.It rained all day until the storm finally eased off in the night.
c. to drop (temperature)
Cuando bajó el sol, la temperatura aflojó.When the sun set, the temperature dropped.
d. to come down (fever or temperature)
Espero que la temperatura de mi hijo afloje rápidamente después de tomar la medicina.Hopefully my son's temperature will come down quickly after taking the medicine.
e. to die down (wind)
Voy a esperar a que el viento afloje para sentarme a leer afuera.I'm going to wait for the wind to die down before I go outside to read.
a. to give in
No aflojes ante las críticas y sigue adelante.Don't give in to criticism; just keep on with what you're doing.
aflojarse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
a. to loosen
Apenas aterrizó el avión, los pasajeros se aflojaron los cinturones.As soon as the plane landed, the passengers loosened their seat belts.
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
b. to work loose
¿Podrías apretar los tornillos de la repisa que se aflojaron?Could you tighten the screws on that shelf? The've worked loose.
c. to slacken
El nudo no se afloja, y no lo puedo deshacer.The knot won't slacken, so I can't untie it.
9. (colloquial) (medicine) (Latin America)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to get diarrhea (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
Juan comió algo que estaba malo, y se le aflojó el estómago.Juan ate something bad and got diarrhea.
b. to get diarrhoea (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Cuando me pongo nerviosa, se me afloja el vientre.When I'm nervous, I get diarrhoea.
c. to get the runs (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Comí demasiadas ciruelas, y se me aflojó la panza.I ate too many prunes and got the runs.
estirar(
ehs
-
tee
-
rahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to extend)
a. to stretch
El curtidor estiró la piel y la dejó sobre una roca para secarse.The tanner stretched the skin and left it on a rock to dry out.
b. to stretch out
Estiramos la cobija antes de ponerla en la cama.We stretched out the blanket before putting it on the bed.
c. to crane
La garceta estiró el cuello para alcanzar un pez.The egret craned its neck to reach a fish.
a. to smooth out
Estira la colcha para que no quede ninguna arruga.Smooth out the bedspread so there aren't any creases.
b. to iron out
Recomiendo que estires un poco el vestido antes de la gala.I recommend that you iron out the dress a little before the gala.
a. to stretch
¿Crees que puedas estirar tu paga para cubrir la renta?Do you think you can stretch your paycheck to cover the rent?
b. to make last
No sabe estirar su domingo; siempre lo gasta de inmediato.He doesn't know how to make his allowance last; he always spends it right away.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
4. (to grow)
a. to shoot up
De verdad han estirado estas plantas debido a las lluvias.These plants have really shot up due to the rain.
estirarse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
6. (to grow)
a. to shoot up
¡Caray! Cómo se estiró Verónica desde la última vez que la vi.Wow! Veronica has really shot up since the last time I saw her.
