vs
QUICK ANSWER
"Botar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to throw away", and "rebotar" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "to bounce". Learn more about the difference between "botar" and "rebotar" below.
botar(
boh
-
tahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to throw away
Quiero botar estos diarios viejos pero no encuentro un contenedor de basura.I want to throw away these old newspapers but I can't find a trash can.
a. to bounce
Los jugadores de tenis siempre botan la pelota antes de sacar.Tennis players always bounce the ball before serving.
3. (marine)
a. to launch
El Titanic fue botado al mar el 31 de mayo de 1911.The Titanic was launched on May 31, 1911.
4. (to dismiss) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to fire
Te van a botar del trabajo si sigues llegando tarde a la oficina.You'll get fired if you keep on arriving late to the office.
5. (to expel) (Andes) (Dominican Republic) (Nicaragua)
Regionalism used in the Dominican Republic
Regionalism used in Nicaragua
6. (to squander) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to waste
No voy a botar mi dinero en una habitación de hotel. Voy a dormir en una tienda de campaña.I'm not going to waste my money on a hotel room. I'm going to sleep in a tent.
7. (to demolish) (Andes) (Costa Rica) (Cuba) (El Salvador)
Regionalism used in Costa Rica
Regionalism used in Cuba
Regionalism used in El Salvador
a. to knock down
El gobierno decidió botar el viejo edificio de la biblioteca.The government decided to knock down the old library building.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
rebotar(
rreh
-
boh
-
tahr
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
1. (to leap)
a. to bounce
La pelota rebotó y fue a parar en medio de la carretera.The ball bounced and ended up in the middle of the road.
b. to rebound
El balón rebotó en la portería y fue a parar directamente al jugador.The ball rebounded off a goal post and directly back to the player.
c. to glance off
El cuchillo rebotó en mi pierna sin hacerme daño.The knife glanced off of my leg without hurting me.
d. to ricochet (bullet)
La bala rebotó en la cerca e hirió a un civil.The bullet ricocheted off the fence and injured a civilian.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
2. (to rebound)
a. to bounce
El niño hizo rebotar la pelota una y otra vez hasta que se cansó.The child bounced the ball over and over again until he got bored.
rebotarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
3. (colloquial) (informal) (to get angry) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person informal “tú” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., How are you?).
Regionalism used in Spain
a. to get pissed off (colloquial) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United States
Juan se rebotó con María por no haberle llamado.Juan got pissed off at Maria for not calling him.
b. to get cheesed off (colloquial) (United Kingdom)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Mi madre se rebotó conmigo por no sacar la basura.My mother got cheesed off at me for not taking out the garbage.
