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"Escaldar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to scald", and "blanquear" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to whiten". Learn more about the difference between "escaldar" and "blanquear" below.
escaldar(
ehs
-
kahl
-
dahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to burn)
a. to scald
El agua del géiser está tan caliente que escalda a quienes se atreven a tocarla.The water of the geyser is so hot that it scalds anyone who dares touch it.
2. (culinary)
escaldarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to scald oneself
No toques el agua que hierve en la olla o te escaldarás.Do not touch the water that is boiling in the pot or you will scald yourself.
4. (medicine)
a. to get diaper rash (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
Cuando los bebés se escaldan lloran porque tienen la piel irritada.When babies get diaper rash they cry because their skin is irritated.
b. to get nappy rash (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
El bebé se escaldó y el doctor me recomendó utilizar talco para aliviar la irritación.The baby got nappy rash and the doctor suggested that I use talcum powder to soothe the irritation.
blanquear(
blahng
-
keh
-
ahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to whiten
Deberías blanquearte los dientes porque los tienes amarillos de tanto fumar.You should have your teeth whitened; they're yellow from all that smoking.
b. to bleach (clothing)
Quiero blanquear los manteles para que desaparezcan todas las manchas.I want to bleach the tablecloths to get rid of all the stains.
c. to whitewash (walls)
Preferiría blanquear todas las paredes y tener un decorado minimalista.My preference would be to whitewash all the walls and have a minimalist decorating scheme.
2. (culinary)
a. to blanch
En la receta decía que había que blanquear las zanahorias hirviéndolas durante un minuto.The recipe said to blanch the carrots by boiling them for one minute.
3. (colloquial) (finance)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to launder
Los acusados blanquearon en España miles de euros procedentes del narcotráfico.In Spain the accused laundered thousands of euros, which were the proceeds of drug trafficking.
a. to come clean about (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Vas a tener que blanquear tu situación con tu novia antes de que se entere de que estás comprometido con otra.You're going to have to come clean about the situation with your girlfriend before she finds out you're with someone else.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to turn white
El cielo está blanqueando y eso significa que va a nevar.The sky is turning white, which means it's going to snow.
blanquearse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to whiten
Dicen que si usas ese dentífrico los dientes se te blanquean.They say your teeth whiten if you use that toothpaste.
b. to bleach (clothing)
Dejaste la blusa demasiado tiempo tendida al sol; por eso se ha blanqueado.You left the blouse hanging in the sun for too long; that's why it bleached.
