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"Comezón" is a noun which is often translated as "itch", and "picar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to sting". Learn more about the difference between "comezón" and "picar" below.
la comezón(
koh
-
meh
-
sohn
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
1. (irritation)
a. itch
¿Puedes rascarme la espalda? Tengo comezón.Could you scratch my back? I have an itch.
No me aguanto más esta comezón en la rodilla.I can't stand this itch on my knee any longer.
b. itching
Mariel tiene la piel seca y se pone un gel especial para la comezón.Mariel has dry skin and uses a special gel for the itching.
c. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Tengo una comezón en todo el cuerpo.I'm itching all over.
Este tipo de jabón me da comezón.This kind of soap makes me itchy.
2. (figurative) (yearning)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
3. (figurative) (scruple)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Te daría comezón saber cómo consiguieron su plata algunas de las personas que donaron para la entidad.If you knew how some of the people who gave donations to this organization made their money, it would make you feel uneasy.
A muchas personas, la idea de que les vaya mejor que a los demás les produce comezón.The idea of doing better than the rest is a source of unease for many people.
picar(
pee
-
kahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to sting
¡Cuidado! No quieres que te pique una abeja.Careful! You don't want to be stung by a bee.
b. to bite
Una cobra picó a mi perro y lo llevamos al veterinario.A cobra bit my dog and we took him to the veterinarian.
c. to peck at (birds)
Los patos picaban peces en el río.Ducks were pecking at fish in the river.
Las gallinas picaron el pan que les tiré.The hens pecked at the bread I threw them.
d. to cut
Pica en trozos finos la cebolla con un cuchillo afilado.Cut the onions finely with a sharp knife.
4. (mining)
a. to break up (in big pieces)
La minería va de picar rocas para conseguir mineral.Mining is about breaking up rocks to collect the ore.
b. to chip (in small pieces)
El joyero picó la amatista antes de tallarla.The jeweler chipped the amethyst before cutting it.
a. to needle
No piques a tu hermano si quieres evitar una discusión con él.Don't needle your brother if you want to avoid an argument with him.
a. to spur on
El jinete picó a su caballo para que fuera más rápido.The rider spurred on his horse to make him go faster.
9. (music)
a. to play staccato
El pianista picó las notas para imitar el sonido del granizo.The pianist played staccato notes to imitate the sound of hail.
10. (to deteriorate)
a. to rot
Dejar la comida en el sol todo el día la picará.Leaving food out in the sun all day will make it rot.
b. to corrode
Dejar caer lejía en el desagüe lo picará después de mucho tiempo.Letting bleach wash down the drain will corrode it after a while.
11. (computing)
a. to key in
Pica tu contraseña en el campo apropiado.Key in your password in the appropriate field.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
12. (to irritate)
a. to itch
Me pica la espalda. ¿Me pasas ese rascador?My back is itching. Can you pass me that backscratcher?
13. (to be peppery)
a. to be hot
¡Estas enchiladas pican demasiado! ¡Necesito agua!These enchiladas are too hot! I need water!
15. (to eat)
16. (to hook)
b. to bite
Primero montamos todas las trampas, y mañana regresamos para ver si algún conejo o ardilla pica.First we set up all of the traps and tomorrow we will return to see if any rabbit or squirrel bites.
c. to fall for it
Parece una estafa obvia, pero mucha gente pica.It seems like an obvious scam, but many people fall for it.
17. (to scorch)
a. to burn
Protégete la piel porque el sol pica hoy.Protect your skin because the sun is burning today.
18. (sports)
19. (automobile)
20. (to leave)
a. to split
Esta película es tan aburrida. ¿Quieres picar?This movie is so boring. Do you want to split?
picarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
21. (to deteriorate)
a. to decay
Si sigues comiendo dulces, tus dientes se picarán.If you keep eating sweets, your teeth will decay.
b. to rot
Si no pones las manzanas en la refrigeradora, se van a picar.If you don't put the apples in the refrigerator, they're going to rot.
c. to perish (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Ando siempre con una bomba de aire en caso de que se pique un neumático de mi bici.I always travel with an air pump in case a tire on my bike perishes.
e. to turn sour (wine)
¿Se pica el vino después de descorcharlo?Does wine turn sour after it's uncorked?
f. to go sour (wine)
El vino se picó y teníamos que botarlo.The wine went sour we had to throw it out.
22. (colloquial) (to get angry)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
23. (to corrode)
a. to rust
Dejamos la parrilla afuera durante el aguacero y empezó a picarse.We left the grill outside during the rainstorm and it began to rust.
a. to get choppy
El tiempo se puso de tormenta y se picó el mar.The weather got stormy and the sea got choppy.
26. (colloquial) (drug)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
