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"Desmoronarse" is a pronominal verb which is often translated as "to crumble", and "desmenuzar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to flake". Learn more about the difference between "desmoronarse" and "desmenuzar" below.
desmoronarse(
dehs
-
moh
-
roh
-
nahr
-
seh
)A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
b. to collapse
El techo de la casa se desmoronó, pero, por suerte, no había nadie adentro.The ceiling of the house collapsed, but luckily nobody was inside.
a. to go to pieces
Antonio se desmoronó cuando se enteró de la muerte de su hijo.Antonio went to pieces when he found out about his son's death.
3. (to decline)
a. to collapse
El imperio comenzó a desmoronarse por las invasiones bárbaras.The empire began to collapse as a result of to the barbarian invasions.
desmoronar
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to cause to crumble
El tsunami desmoronó el rompeolas.The tsunami caused the breakwater to crumble.
b. to cause to collapse
Fue el fuego de artillería del enemigo lo que desmoronó la torre.It was the artillery fire from the enemy that caused the tower to collapse.
desmenuzar(
dehs
-
meh
-
noo
-
sahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (culinary)
c. to crumble (bread or cake)
Para realizar el plato, el chef desmenuzó el pan y después lo tostó.To make the dish, the chef crumbled the bread and then toasted it.
a. to scrutinize
Una de las labores de un detective consiste en desmenuzar las pruebas.One of the tasks of a detective is to scrutinize the evidence.
b. to scrutinise (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Después de desmenuzar el proyecto de desarrollo urbano, la comisión decidió rechazarlo.After scrutinising the urban development project, the committee decided to turn it down.
desmenuzarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to crumble
El bizcocho estaba tan seco que se desmenuzaba al partirlo.The cake was so dry that it crumbled when I cut it.
