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"Cortar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to cut", and "pegar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to hit". Learn more about the difference between "cortar" and "pegar" below.
cortar(
kohr
-
tahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
b. to cut off
¿Quieres que te corte un pedazo de queso manchego?Do you want me to cut off a piece of Manchego cheese for you?
d. to slice
El panadero cortó el pan con un cuchillo eléctrico.The baker sliced the bread with an electric knife.
e. to cut out
A ese niño le encanta cortar las fotos de las revistas de su mamá.That boy loves to cut out pictures from his mom's magazines.
f. to amputate (limb)
Los doctores se vieron forzados a cortarle la pierna al paciente.The doctors were forced to amputate the patient's leg.
4. (cards)
a. to cut
Si alguien quiere cortar las cartas, podemos empezar a jugar.If someone wants to cut the cards, we can start playing.
5. (figurative) (to divide)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
a. to slice through (figurative)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
El ninja cortó el aire con sus chacos.The ninja sliced through the air with his nunchucks.
6. (to dilute)
a. to cut off
Les cortaron la luz porque tenían seis meses sin pagar el recibo.They cut off their electricity because they hadn't paid the bill in six months.
a. to break off
Los dos países cortaron relaciones diplomáticas tras el incidente.The two countries broke off diplomatic relations after the incident.
9. (to staunch)
a. to stop
Ponte esta venda en el brazo para cortar el flujo de sangre a la herida.Tie this bandage around your arm to stop the flow of blood to the wound.
10. (to block)
a. to cut off
Íbamos manejando por la carretera cuando nos cortó un loco en una camioneta.We were driving on the highway when a crazy guy in a truck cut us off.
b. to close off
Cortaron el acceso al centro debido a la feria.They closed off access to downtown because of the festival.
11. (computing)
12. (to edit out)
a. to cut
Esta escena con la jirafa no me gusta nada; mejor la cortamos.I don't like this scene with the giraffe at all; let's cut it.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
15. (computing)
a. to break up
Sara y su novio cortaron porque Sara le puso los cuernos.Sara and her boyfriend broke up because Sara cheated on him.
b. to split up
Los papás de Harry cortaron cuando tenía dos años.Harry's parents split up when he was two years old.
a. to cut through
Vamos a cortar por el estacionamiento del supermercado.Let's cut through the grocery store parking lot.
cortarse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
a. to cut oneself
Me corté con un cuchillo mientras cortaba una manzana.I cut myself with a knife while I was cutting up an apple.
A reciprocal verb is a verb that indicates that two or more subjects perform an action on each other (e.g., Ellos se abrazan.).
a. to cut each other
Los pandilleros se cortaron durante la pelea.The gang members cut each other during the fight.
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
23. (to split)
a. to get cut off
Se cortó la línea; ahorita la vuelvo a marcar.We got cut off; I'll call back in a minute.
25. (culinary)
a. to curdle
La crema poblana se va a cortar si la calientas demasiado.The poblana chili pepper cream will curdle if you overheat it.
26. (colloquial) (to become shy)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to clam up (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
No te cortes ahora, hijo. Tienes que exigir tus derechos.Don't clam up now, son. You have to fight for your rights.
b. to lose one's nerve (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Aureliano se cortó al momento de pedir la mano de su novia.Aureliano lost his nerve as he was about to ask his girlfriend to marry him.
pegar(
peh
-
gahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to hit
Le pegó a la pelota de béisbol y marcó un jonrón.He hit the baseball and scored a home run.
2. (to attach)
a. to paste (with glue)
Voy a pegar esto en mi cuaderno para que me inspire.I'm going to paste this in my notebook for inspiration.
b. to glue (with glue)
Pega las dos hojas y luego dóblalas por la mitad.Glue the two sheets together and then fold them in half.
c. to stick
Pega este dibujo al lado del otro con chinches.Stick this drawing next to that one with thumbtacks.
4. (computing)
a. to paste
Copia ese texto y pégalo en este documento.Copy that text and paste it into this document.
a. to give
Mi tía me pegó la gripa y ahora me tengo que quedar en casa.My aunt gave me the flu and now I have to stay home.
7. (to give)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Está en el hospital después de que le hayan pegado un tiro.He's in the hospital after having been shot.
Cuando vio el ratón, pegó un grito.When she saw the mouse, she screamed.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
pegarse
A reciprocal verb is a verb that indicates that two or more subjects perform an action on each other (e.g., Ellos se abrazan.).
a. to hit each other
Mis dos hermanos siempre se pegan cuando vamos al supermercado.My two brothers always hit each other when we go to the supermarket.
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
a. to hit oneself
El niñito se pegó con su mochila y empezó a llorar.The little boy hit himself with his backpack and began to cry.
b. to bump into
Me pegué con la silla al salir de la cocina.I bumped into the chair as I was leaving the kitchen.
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
11. (to cling)
a. to stick
Los frijoles se pegaron a la olla y no los puedo quitar.The beans stuck to the pan and I can't scrape them off.
12. (to catch)
a. to pick up
Siempre se me pega el acento cubano de mi abuelo cuando lo visito.I always pick up my grandfather's Cuban accent when I visit him.
