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"Caducar" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "to expire", and "vencer" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to defeat". Learn more about the difference between "caducar" and "vencer" below.
caducar(
kah
-
doo
-
kahr
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to expire
Mi carnet de conducir caducó y todavía no lo renové.My driver's license expired and I haven't renewed it yet.
b. to be no longer valid
Los derechos de autor del libro caducarán en 75 años.The book's copyright will no longer be valid in 75 years.
c. to lapse
Dejé caducar mi suscripción a la revista académica y ya no recibo ediciones.I let my subscription to the academic journal lapse and I no longer receive issues.
2. (to go bad)
a. to be past its use-by date
La leche caducó. ¡No la bebas!The milk is past its use-by date. Don't drink it!
b. to go past its sell-by date
Los cereales habían caducado, pero los comí igual porque me moría de hambre.The cereal had gone past its sell-by date, but I ate it anyway because I was starving.
c. to expire (medication)
Este remedio contra el resfrío caducó hace tres meses, así que no te va a hacer efecto.This flu medication expired three months ago, so it won't have any effect on you.
vencer(
behn
-
sehr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to defeat
Harry venció a Lord Voldemort utilizando las tres reliquias de la muerte.Harry defeated Lord Voldemort using all three of the deathly hallows.
b. to beat
Tienes que desarrollar tu juego de apertura para vencer a un maestro de ajedrez.You must develop your opening game to beat a chess master.
c. to conquer
Como dijo Julio César: "Vine, vi y vencí".Like Julius Caesar said: "I came, I saw, and I conquered."
a. to overcome
Vencí mi cansancio y logré trabajar toda la noche.I overcame my tiredness and managed to work through the night.
b. to conquer
Hice un salto en paracaídas para vencer mi miedo a las alturas.I did a parachute jump to conquer my fear of heights.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
3. (to triumph)
b. to be victorious
"¡Venceremos!", gritaron los soldados al asaltar el campo de batalla."We will be victorious!", shouted the soldiers as they stormed the battlefield.
a. to be due
La primera letra vence el 15 de enero, y la segunda el 30.The first installment is due on January 15, and the second one on the 30th.
vencerse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to give way
Esta viga se está venciendo bajo el peso del edificio.This beam is giving way under the weight of the building.
a. to expire
Mi licencia se vence este fin de semana así que mañana voy para renovarlo. My license expires this weekend so tomorrow I'm going in to renew it.