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"Declinar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to decline", and "rechazar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to reject". Learn more about the difference between "declinar" and "rechazar" below.
declinar(
deh
-
klee
-
nahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to decline
Tengo que declinar tu invitación porque me voy a encontrar en el exterior.I must decline your invitation because I'm going abroad.
b. to reject
El consejo declinó la petición por unanimidad.The board rejected the petition unanimously.
c. to turn down
El salario no era bueno, así que decliné la oferta de trabajo.The salary wasn't high, so I turned down the job proposal.
d. to not accept
El gobierno declinó la solicitud de mi amigo para una visa.The government didn't accept my friend's application for a visa.
a. to decline
Declina los pronombres personales en los casos acusativo y dativo.Decline the personal pronouns in the accusative and dative cases.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
3. (to end)
a. to draw to a close
Los búhos aparecen cuando declina el día.Owls appear when the day draws to a close.
a. to decline
El anciano se enfermó de neumonía y su salud comenzó a declinar.The old man got pneumonia, and his health began to decline.
rechazar(
rreh
-
chah
-
sahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to repel
Los soldados rechazaron la ofensiva del enemigo.The soldiers repelled the enemy offensive.
b. to drive back
Necesitamos tanques y helicópteros adicionales para rechazar a las fuerzas enemigas.We need additional tanks and helicopters to drive back the enemy forces.
a. to deny
La empresa ha rechazado las acusaciones de discriminación.The company has denied accusations of discrimination.
4. (medicine)
a. to reject
Desafortunadamente, el cuerpo del paciente rechazó el riñón que le donaron.Unfortunately, the patient's body rejected the donated kidney.
