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"Comerciantes" is a form of "comerciante", a noun which is often translated as "merchant". "Afines" is a form of "afinar", a transitive verb which is often translated as "to tune". Learn more about the difference between "comerciantes" and "afines" below.
el comerciante, la comerciante(
koh
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mehr
-
syahn
-
teh
)This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
a. merchant
Los comerciantes europeos vendían mercancía que adquirían en la Ruta de la Seda.European merchants sold merchandise they acquired on the Silk Road.
c. trader
El comerciante no logró vender todos sus bienes en el mercado.The trader was unable to sell all his goods at the market.
d. salesperson
Si quieres ser un comerciante exitoso, tienes que mejorar tu trato de la gente.If you want to be a successful salesperson, you need to improve your people skills.
a. shopkeeper
El comerciante recibe entregas a las cinco de la mañana.The shopkeeper receives deliveries at five in the morning.
b. storekeeper (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
Pregúntale al comerciante cuánto vale este jugo.Ask the storekeeper how much this juice is.
afinar(
ah
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fee
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nahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
2. (to hone)
a. to polish
La gimnasta tiene que afinar sus movimientos finales.The gymnast needs to polish her ending poses.
b. to perfect
Tienes buena velocidad, pero tienes que afinar tu técnica.Your speed is great, but you need to perfect your technique.
c. to refine
Viajé a París para practicar y afinar mi francés.I traveled to Paris to practice and refine my French.
3. (to point)
a. to sharpen
El cazador afinó la punta de la lanza con un cuchillo.The hunter sharpened the end of the spear with a knife.
4. (mechanics) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to tune up
El mecánico afinó el motor de mi coche para aumentar los caballos de fuerza.The mechanic tuned up my car to give it more horsepower.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to sing in tune (singer)
Puedo afinar, pero no tengo una voz potente.I can sing in tune, but my voice is not powerful.
b. to play in tune (musician)
Uno de los violinistas del cuarteto de cuerdas no está afinando.One of the violinists in the string quartet is not playing in tune.
a. to tune up
La banda va a subir al escenario cuando terminen de afinar.The band will go on stage after tuning up.
afinarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to become polished
El estilo de López se afinó cuando recibió lecciones del compositor Ibáñez.Lopez's style became polished when he received lessons from the composer Ibanez.
a. to become thinner
El túnel se afinaba cerca de la salida.The tunnel became thinner towards the exit.
