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"Extrañar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to miss", and "echar de menos" is a transitive verb phrase which is also often translated as "to miss". Learn more about the difference between "extrañar" and "echar de menos" below.
extrañar(
ehks
-
trah
-
nyahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to miss
Extraño mucho a mi familia cuando estoy de viaje.I miss my family a lot when I'm traveling.
2. (to amaze)
a. to surprise
Me extraña que no haya venido a trabajar.It surprises me that she didn't come to work.
extrañarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to be surprised
Me extrañé de que no se acordara de mi cumpleaños.I was surprised that she didn't remember my birthday.
echar de menos(
eh
-
chahr
deh
meh
-
nohs
)A transitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and requires a direct object (e.g., take out the trash.).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Echo de menos un buen índice en este libro.A good index would be really helpful in this book.
Echo de menos un poco más de entusiasmo en los jugadores.I feel the players should be a bit more enthusiastic.
