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"Colocación" is a noun which is often translated as "placing", and "colocar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to place". Learn more about the difference between "colocación" and "colocar" below.
la colocación(
koh
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loh
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kah
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syohn
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
a. placing
La colocación de la grúa fue ardua y cansadora.The placing of the crane was difficult and tedious.
b. positioning
Corregiremos la iluminación una vez que terminemos con la colocación de las cámaras.We will correct the lightning once the camera positioning is done.
c. laying (of stones and tiles)
Antes de comenzar con la colocación de las baldosas, hay que preparar el piso y el cemento.Before starting with the laying of the tiles, you need to prepare the floor and mix the cement.
a. positioning
La colocación de los ejércitos enemigos obligó al general a emprender la retirada hacia el sur.The positioning of the enemy armies forced the general to retreat south.
3. (post)
a. job
Mi cuñado me consiguió una colocación en el banco.My brother-in-law got me a job at the bank.
b. position
Ramírez obtuvo una colocación en la Administración central que le dio más poder e influencia.Ramirez obtained a position in the central government that gave him greater power and influence.
4. (finance)
a. placement
La empresa decidió recaudar más fondos mediante una colocación privada entre bancos extranjeros.The company decided to raise more investment through a private placement with international banks.
b. placing
La nueva colocación desfavorece a los accionistas actuales.The new placing isn't in the interests of current shareholders.
colocar(
koh
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loh
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kahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to arrange)
d. to put up
Cuando mi perro se perdió coloqué carteles en todas partes.When my dog got lost, I put up signs everywhere.
e. to hang
¿Por qué no colocamos el cuadro de Van Gogh en la pared del comedor?Why don't we hang the Van Gogh painting on the dining room wall?
f. to position
Claudia colocó todos sus muñecos sobre la cama.Claudia positioned all her dolls on the bed.
2. (finance)
a. to place
Mark decidió colocar una fuerte suma de dinero en bienes raíces.Mark decided to place a large amount of money in real estate.
b. to invest
Si su perfil de riesgo es conservador, coloque su dinero en un fondo mutuo de renta fija.If your risk profile is conservative, invest your money in a fixed-income mutual fund.
a. to place
¿Cómo hizo Marta para colocar a su sobrino en la empresa de Luis?How did Marta manage to place her nephew at Luis's company?
b. to find a job for
Guillermo colocó a su hijo en el gobierno.Guillermo found a job for his son in the government.
c. to get a job for
Alonso colocó a su primo como chofer de Uber.Alonso got a job for his cousin as an Uber driver.
4. (old-fashioned) (to find a spouse for)
A word or phrase that is seldom used in contemporary language and is recognized as being from another decade, (e.g., cat, groovy).
a. to marry off
Mi vecino ya colocó a su hija mayor pero le quedan tres más.My neighbor already married off his eldest daughter, but he's got three more left.
a. to palm off on (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Mis compañeros de equipo querían colocarme la responsabilidad de lo que salió mal.My teammates wanted to palm off the responsibility of what went wrong on me.
6. (commerce)
a. to place
La empresa espera colocar este producto en el mercado internacional el año entrante.The company is hoping to place this product on the international market next year.
7. (colloquial) (to intoxicate)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to get high (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Esta pastilla te colocará, amigo.This pill will get you high, buddy.
colocarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to get a job
Fernando está tratando de colocarse como médico en el hospital general.Fernando is trying to get a job as a doctor at the general hospital.
10. (to apply)
a. to put on
¿Me enseñas a colocarme las pestañas postizas?Can you show me how to put on fake eyelashes?
11. (colloquial) (to get drunk)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to get plastered (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Todos nos colocamos en la fiesta de Alicia.All of us got plastered at Alicia's party.
12. (colloquial) (to get stoned)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to get high (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Amy y Tina se están comportando raro. - No me extraña. Se colocaron antes de la clase.Amy and Tina are acting weird. - That doesn't surprise me. They got high before class.
