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"Distracción" is a noun which is often translated as "entertainment", and "distraer" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to distract". Learn more about the difference between "distracción" and "distraer" below.
la distracción(
dees
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trahk
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syohn
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
1. (amusement)
a. entertainment
Necesito encontrar alguna distracción porque tiendo a pensar demasiado.I need to find some entertainment because I tend to overthink.
b. hobby
Mi principal distracción es la fotografía. El tiempo vuela cuando la hago.My main hobby is photography. Time flies when I'm doing it.
c. pastime
Hacer deporte es una de las distracciones más sanas que puedes tener.Practicing sports is one of the healthiest pastimes you can have.
a. distraction
Tener las notificaciones del celular encendidas mientras trabajas es una distracción.Having the notifications on your phone on while you're working is a distraction.
a. distraction
La distracción de Marta mientras manejaba casi la hace estrellarse.Marta's distraction while she was driving almost made her crash.
b. lapse of concentration
No se nos permite ni una sola distracción mientras hacemos este trabajo delicado.We can't afford a single lapse of concentration while we're doing this delicate work.
4. (finance)
a. embezzlement
El político está acusado de distracción de fondos y quizá vaya a la cárcel.The politician is accused of embezzlement of funds, and he may go to jail.
distraer(
dees
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trah
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ehr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to distract
No me distraigas ahora; tengo que entregar este ensayo en media hora.Don't distract me right now; I have to turn in this essay in half an hour.
Las conversaciones de los vecinos me distraen cuando intento concentrarme.The neighbors' conversations distract me when I'm trying to concentrate.
a. to entertain
Los nietos de Ernesto lo distraen un rato y se olvida de sus penas.Ernesto's grandchildren entertain him for a while and he forgets his troubles.
c. to amuse
A mi abuelo le gusta ver a los cachorros del vecino jugando en el jardín porque lo distraen.My granddad likes to watch the neighbor's puppies playing in the yard because they amuse him.
d. to take one's mind off
La televisión me distrae de mis problemas.Television takes my mind off my problems.
3. (finance)
a. to embezzle
Carmen logró distraer miles de dólares mediante pequeñas transacciones.Carmen was able to embezzle thousands of dollars via small transactions.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to be entertaining
Es un programa que distrae e informa.It is an entertaining and informative program.
b. to be a good way of entertaining oneself
Escuchar música distrae mucho.Listening to music is a good way of entertaining yourself.
distraerse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to pass the time
Me gusta distraerme los fines de semana yendo al cine.I like to pass the time by going to the movies on the weekends.
c. to keep oneself amused
La niña se distrae con sus muñecas.The little girl keeps herself amused with her dolls.
d. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Me gusta distraerme con rompecabezas.I like doing puzzles for fun.
Mis padres pasan mucho tiempo trabajando en el jardín para distraerse.My parents spend a lot of time gardening for fun.
