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"Babysit" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "cuidar niños", and "childcare" is a noun which is often translated as "el cuidado de los niños". Learn more about the difference between "babysit" and "childcare" below.
babysit(
bey
-
bi
-
siht
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. cuidar niños
My parents babysit for me when I have to work.Mis padres me cuidan a los niños cuando tengo que trabajar.
b. hacer de canguro (Spain)
Regionalism used in Spain
I used to babysit when I was in high school to make extra money.Solía hacer de canguro en la secundaria para ganar dinero extra.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. cuidar
Would you mind babysitting my son this weekend?¿Te importaría cuidar a mi hijo este fin de semana?
childcare(
chayld
-
kehr
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
1. (service)
a. el cuidado de los niños (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Many working single mothers cannot afford childcare.Muchas madres solteras que trabajan no tienen para pagar el cuidado de los niños.
2. (education)
a. la puericultura (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Julie majored in psychology with a concentration in childcare.Julie estudió psicología con una concentración en puericultura.
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Josefina didn't know that she was eligible for a childcare voucher.Josefina no sabía que tenía derecho a una ayuda para guardería.
The neighborhood attracts families because of the abundance of schools and childcare facilities.Este vecindario atrae a las familias por su abundancia de escuelas y guarderías.
