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"Mellas" is a form of "mellar", a transitive verb which is often translated as "to nick". "Abolladuras" is a form of "abolladura", a noun which is often translated as "dent". Learn more about the difference between "mellas" and "abolladuras" below.
mellar(
meh
-
yahr
)
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
transitive verb
a. to nick
Alguien había mellado el hacha, por lo que la tuve que afilar.Someone had nicked the ax blade, so I had to sharpen it.
b. to chip
Carlota no tuvo cuidado al recoger y me melló dos platos.Carlota wasn't careful as she was clearing up and she chipped two of my plates.
c. to notch
El náufrago mellaba cada día un trozo de madera para saber cuánto tiempo llevaba en la isla.The castaway notched a piece of wood every day so he knew how long he had been on the island.
2. (to cause damage to)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
(Latin America)
a. to damage
Las acusaciones contra el cantante mellaron su nombre.The accusations against the singer damaged his reputation.
b. to harm
No queremos que este incidente melle el impecable currículum del trabajador.We don't want this incident to harm the employee's impeccable record.
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la abolladura(
ah
-
boh
-
yah
-
doo
-
rah
)
A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
feminine noun
a. dent
El mecánico no le pudo sacar la abolladura a mi carro y por eso tengo que cambiarle el bómper.The mechanic wasn't able to fix the dent on my car, so I'll have to get a new bumper.
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