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"Levantarse" is a reflexive verb which is often translated as "to get up", and "comerse" is a pronominal verb which is often translated as "to eat". Learn more about the difference between "levantarse" and "comerse" below.
levantarse(
leh
-
bahn
-
tahr
-
seh
)
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
reflexive verb
a. to get up
¿A qué hora te levantaste hoy?What time did you get up today?
a. to get up
Levántate que el suelo no está limpio.Get up, the floor is not clean.
a. to rise up
Caín se levantó contra Abel y lo mató.Cain rose up against Abel and killed him.
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
pronominal verb
a. to come off
Tenía el cuerpo quemado y se le levantaba la piel al tocarla.His body was burned and his skin came off when touched.
a. to break out
Cuando el miembro de la oposición acusó al ministro de malversación, se armó una polvareda.When the opposition member accused the minister of embezzlement, mayhem broke out.
levantar
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
transitive verb
a. to raise
Levanta la mano si quieres ir al parque.Raise your hand if you want to go to the park.
b. to lift
No es capaz de levantar la maleta.He is unable to lift the suitcase.
c. to lift up
¿Puedes ayudarme a levantar el sofá?Can you help me lift up the sofa?
d. to pick up
Se inclinó para levantar la silla del suelo.He bent over to pick up the chair off the floor.
a. to lift
El tribunal debe levantar la orden de detención.The court must lift the detention order.
a. to found
Mi abuelo levantó su compañía en 1939.My grandfather founded his company in 1939.
a. to build
La torre del reloj se levantó en 1836.The clock tower was built in 1836.
a. to take down
Levantaron el laboratorio para dejar sitio a la nueva escuela.The laboratory was taken down to make room for the new school.
b. to clear off
Levanta tus cosas de la mesa.Clear your things off the table.
11. (to get to come out)
Regionalism used in Cuba
(Cuba)
Regionalism used in Mexico
(Mexico)
Regionalism used in Venezuela
(Venezuela)
a. to remove
¿Qué se puede hacer para levantar una mancha de vino?What can you do to remove a wine stain?
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comerse(
koh
-
mehr
-
seh
)
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
pronominal verb
a. to eat
Ella se comió el pastel entero.She ate the whole cake.
a. to eat away
El óxido se come el metal.Rust eats away metal.
b. to fade
El sol se comió la pintura del carro.The sun faded the paint on the car.
c. to corrode
La lluvia ácida se come las estatuas de bronce.Acid rain corrodes bronze statues.
a. to eat up
¡Los impuestos se me comen la mayor parte de mi sueldo!Much of my pay is eaten up by taxes!
b. to blow through
Iván se comió el premio que ganó en la lotería en pocos meses.Ivan blew through his lottery winnings in a few months.
a. to bite
Le pusieron un ungüento para que no siguiera comiéndose las uñas.They put an ointment on his nails so that he wouldn't bite them.
a. to miss
Te comiste toda la puntuación.You missed all the punctuation.
b. to swallow
Se comió las palabras cuando estaba hablando con su enamorada.He swallowed his words when he was talking to his crush.
a. to hit
Se comió el techo con la cabeza.He hit his head against the ceiling.
b. to crash into
Nos comimos la puerta del garaje cuando dimos marcha atrás.We crashed into the garage door when we reversed.
comer
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
transitive verb
a. to eat
Me gusta comer manzanas.I like to eat apples.
8. (to eat for lunch)
Regionalism used in Mexico
(Mexico)
Regionalism used in Spain
(Spain)
a. to have for lunch
Tengo ganas de comer un sándwich de rosbif.I feel like having a roast beef sandwich for lunch.
9. (to eat for dinner)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
(Latin America)
a. to have for dinner
Vamos a comer espagueti con albóndigas.We're going to have spaghetti and meatballs for dinner.
a. to hide
Ese sombrero te queda demasiado grande. ¡Te come la cara entera!That hat is too big for you. It hides your entire face!
b. to swallow up
Siento que estas gafas de sol me comen la cara.I feel like these sunglasses swallow up my face.
a. to eat up
El pago de la hipoteca de la casa me come la mayoría del sueldo.The mortgage payment on my house eats up most of my paycheck.
a. to take
Me comieron todos los peones.All my pawns were taken.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
intransitive verb
a. to eat
No quiero comer ahora mismo; no tengo hambre.I don't feel like eating right now. I'm not hungry.
14. (to eat lunch)
Regionalism used in Mexico
(Mexico)
Regionalism used in Spain
(Spain)
a. to have lunch
Comieron rápido porque tenían una reunión a la 1 pm.They had lunch quickly because they had a meeting at 1 pm.
15. (to have a meal in the evening)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
(Latin America)
a. to have dinner
Comimos en un restaurante mexicano nuevo.We had dinner at a new Mexican restaurant.
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