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"Bufar" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "to snort", and "refunfuñar" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "to grumble". Learn more about the difference between "bufar" and "refunfuñar" below.
bufar(
boo
-
fahr
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to snort (horses and bulls)
El caballo se puso agitado por los truenos y comenzó a bufar.The horse became agitated with the thunder and started to snort.
2. (to seethe)
a. to snort
¿Qué le hiciste a Mario? Lo vi salir bufando de la ira.What did you do to Mario? I saw him leave snorting with anger.
b. to be furious
Andrés dejó plantada a Sarita en el restaurante, y ella está que bufa.Andrés stood Sarita up at the restaurant and she's furious.
3. (to swell)
a. to bulge
El escape en la tubería hizo bufar la pared del baño.The leak in the pipe caused the bathroom wall to bulge.
refunfuñar(
rreh
-
foon
-
foo
-
nyahr
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
c. to gripe (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
¿Qué andas refunfuñando por lo bajo?What are you griping about under your breath?
d. to grouch
Mi vecino se pasa el día refunfuñando por esto o aquello.My neighbor is grouching all the time for this or that reason.
