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"Desarmar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to dismantle", and "desmontar" is a transitive verb which is also often translated as "to dismantle". Learn more about the difference between "desarmar" and "desmontar" below.
desarmar(
dehs
-
ahr
-
mahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to dismantle
El armario va a pasar por la puerta si lo desarmamos.The wardrobe will fit through the door if we dismantle it.
b. to take apart
Desarmé la maqueta de plástico y pinté las partes por separado.I took apart the plastic model and I painted the pieces separately.
c. to take to pieces
Ruy desarmó el tren de juguete para ver cómo funciona.Ruy took the toy train to pieces to see how it works.
d. to take down (a tent)
Los andinistas desarmaron la tienda y comenzaron a caminar.The mountain climbers took down the tent and started walking.
e. to break up
Juliana desarmó el rompecabezas para armarlo de nuevo.Juliana broke up the puzzle to put it together again.
a. to disarm
Mi rival en el debate me desarmó con pruebas irrefutables.My rival in the debate disarmed me by presenting irrefutable evidence.
4. (to appease)
a. to calm
Estaba hecho una furia pero mi novia me abrazó y me desarmó.I was in a rage but my girlfriend hugged me and calmed me.
b. to placate
El gerente desarmó al cliente furioso al ofrecerle un descuento generoso.The manager placated the angry customer with a generous discount.
desarmarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to disarm
Ambos países se desarmaron tras firmar el tratado de paz.Both countries disarmed after signing the peace treaty.
a. to come apart
La aspiradora de mano se desarma fácilmente para su limpieza.The handheld vacuum cleaner comes apart easily for cleaning.
b. to fall to pieces (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
La vieja tumbona de madera se desarma cuando me tiendo en ella.The old wooden deck chair falls to pieces when I lie down on it.
desmontar(
dehs
-
mohn
-
tahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to dismantle
El fontanero desmontó la cisterna para arreglarla.The plumber dismantled the toilet tank to fix it.
b. to take apart
Para meter la silla en el coche, primero hay que desmontarla.We have to take the chair apart before putting it in the car.
c. to strip down (motor)
El mecánico tuvo que desmontar el motor del coche.The mechanic had to strip the car engine down.
d. to take down (tent)
Nos costó una hora a desmontar la tienda de campaña antes de volver del camping.It took us one hour to take the tent down before we came back from camping.
f. to take to pieces
Mi esposo desmontó mi computador para tratar de arreglarlo.My husband took my computer to pieces trying to fix it.
a. to level
Para construir en este terreno el primer paso es desmontarlo.The first step to build on this terrain is to level it.
b. to clear (to remove the trees)
Desmontamos la zona para que no quedara ni un solo árbol.We cleared the area so that there was not a single tree left.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
4. (to get off)
a. to dismount
El peón del establo ayudó a Emily a desmontar del caballo.The stable hand helped Emily dismount from the horse.
desmontarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to dismount (formal)
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).
Lo más difícil cuando empecé a montar a caballo era desmontarme.The most difficult part when I started riding was to dismount.
