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"Despenar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to put down", and "despeñarse" is a pronominal verb which is often translated as "to yield". Learn more about the difference between "despenar" and "despeñarse" below.
despenar(
dehs
-
peh
-
nahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to put down
Tuvimos que despenar al pobre caballo para que no sufriera.We had to put the poor horse down so that it wouldn't suffer.
despeñarse(
dehs
-
peh
-
nyahr
-
seh
)A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to yield
Samanta se despeñó por la lujuria y engañó a su esposo.Samanta yielded to lust and cheated on her husband.
b. to go over a cliff (vehicle)
El coche se despeñó, y los cuatro ocupantes fallecieron.The car went over a cliff, and the four people inside died.
despeñar
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to throw over a cliff
El general nos ordenó que despeñáramos a los traidores.The general ordered us to throw the traitors over a cliff.
