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"Meter" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to put", and "dar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to give". Learn more about the difference between "meter" and "dar" below.
meter(
meh
-
tehr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to place)
a. to put
Jorge metió el brazo por la verja para alcanzar la fruta.Jorge put his arm through the railings to reach the fruit.
b. to stick
El niñito metió un cuchillo en la tostadora y se sorprendió con lo que pasó.The little boy stuck a knife in the toaster and was shocked by what happened.
c. to fit
¿Crees que se puede meter tantas personas en el coche?Do you think you can fit that many people in the car?
2. (sports)
a. to score
Nuestro equipo metió el único gol faltando tres segundos en el partido.Our team scored the only goal of the match with three seconds to go.
a. to bring into
No quiero que me metas en las broncas del comité.I don't want you to bring me into the committee's problems.
b. to involve
No hubieras metido a tu hijo en este negocio.You shouldn't have involved your son in this business.
4. (sewing)
a. to take in
Como perdí peso, tengo que meter la cintura de los pantalones.Since I've lost weight, I need to take in the waist of my pants.
b. to take up
Como la falda te queda un poco larga, vamos a meter la bastilla.Since your skirt is a little long, we're going to take up the hem.
b. to put
Mete reversa y lentamente quita el pie del freno.Put it in reverse and slowly take your foot off the brake.
6. (to employ)
7. (to use on)
a. to take to
No me gustó como me quedó el dibujo, así que le metí las tijeras.I didn't like how my drawing turned out, so I took the scissors to it.
8. (colloquial) (to make understand)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to get into
No sé como meterle a mi hijo que tiene que estudiar.I don't know how to get it into my son's head that he has to study.
9. (to apply)
a. to give
El boxeador le metió un golpe tan duro a su contrincante que se cayó.The boxer gave his opponent such a hard punch that he fell over.
10. (to cause)
meterse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
c. to get into
Estoy tan cansada que tengo ganas de meterme en la cama.I'm so tired I just want to get into bed.
12. (to be placed)
a. to get involved
Imelda se metió a la política cuando su familia perdió todo por un político corrupto.Imelda got involved in politics when her family lost everything because of a corrupt politician.
b. to get into
Después de su primer viaje al mar a los 12 años, Rose se metió al buceo.After her first trip to the coast at age 12, Rose got into diving.
a. to interfere
Rafa siempre se mete en donde no debe.Rafa's always interfering where he’s not wanted.
b. to meddle
¿No tienes nada mejor que hacer que meterte en nuestro proyecto?Don’t you have anything better to do than meddle in our project?
c. to stick one's nose in
No te metas donde no debes.Don't stick your nose in where it's not wanted.
dar(
dahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
b. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
¿Me das una libra de queso y dos libras de jamón?Can I have one pound of cheese and two pounds of ham?
¿Cuántos tomates quiere? - Deme dos kilos, por favor.How many tomatoes do you want? - I'll take two kilos, please.
a. to give
Necesito que me des una idea para el tema de la fiesta.I need you to give me a good idea for the party's theme.
c. to produce
Este manzano da más manzanas de las que podríamos comer.This apple tree produces more apples than we can possibly eat.
a. to hold
Esta es la lista de los eventos que se dieron este mes.This is the list of events held this month.
b. to have
Mi compañía da una fiesta de Navidad todos los años.My company has a Christmas party every year.
c. to throw
Le dieron una fiesta sorpresa para celebrar su graduación.They threw him a surprise party to celebrate his graduation.
4. (to educate)
a. to teach
No dan mi asignatura favorita en la escuela.My favorite subject is not taught in school.
5. (to apply)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Le voy a dar otra capa de barniz a esta mesa.I'm going to give this table another coat of varnish.
Esta pared necesita que le des otra pasada de pintura.This wall needs another coat of paint.
6. (to grant)
a. to award
Me dieron una beca para ir a la universidad.I was awarded a scholarship to go to university.
7. (to lend)
a. to give (a pleasant taste)
La hoja de laurel le da un sabor único a la sopa.Bay leaf gives a unique taste to the soup.
8. (to express)
a. to say (thanks or greetings)
Sra. García, le quiero dar las gracias por una cena magnífica.Mrs. García, I just want to say thank you for a wonderful dinner.
b. to give
El Día de Acción de Gracias es un día para dar las gracias por todo lo que tenemos.Thanksgiving Day is a day to give thanks for all that we have.
10. (card games)
a. to show
El cine independiente está dando un maratón de películas clásicas.The independent movie theater is showing a classic film marathon.
12. (to sound)
13. (to make feel)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
No puedo tomar café caliente en este clima; me da demasiado calor.I can't drink hot coffee in this weather; it makes me too hot.
Me da miedo quedarme sola en la casa.I get scared staying at home alone.
a. to consider
Necesito que termines el proyecto. - Dalo por hecho.I need you to finish the project. - Consider it done.
15. (colloquial) (to spoil) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
a. to ruin
Me dio la película al decirme el final.He ruined the movie for me when he spoiled the ending.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
17. (to matter)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
¿Quieres ir a la playa o a la piscina? - Me da lo mismo.Do you want to go to the beach or to the pool? - It's all the same to me.
Me da igual si comemos pasta o pescado esta noche.It doesn't matter to me whether we have pasta or fish tonight.
19. (to activate)
20. (to strike)
21. (to discover)
a. to find
Después de años de investigación, por fin dio con la solución.After years of research, she finally found the solution.
b. to hit upon
Hasta el día de hoy, nadie ha dado con la respuesta al acertijo.So far, no one has hit upon the answer to the riddle.
c. to come up with
El equipo aún no ha dado con una solución al problema.The team still hasn't come up with a solution to the problem.
22. (to be inclined)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Desde que supo que consiguió el trabajo, le ha dado con ir de compras todo el tiempo.Ever since he found out that he got the job, he's taken to nonstop shopping.
Me ha dado con tomarme una copa de vino con la cena.I've started having a glass of wine with my dinner.
a. to be enough
No sé si esta pizza dará para todos.I'm not sure if this pizza will be enough for everyone.
24. (to motivate)
a. to give
Los sucesos de hoy me dieron qué pensar.Today's events have given me something to think about.
25. (to shine)
a. to hit
De este ángulo el sol me da en los ojos y no puedo ver.From this angle, the sun hits my eyes and I can't see.
26. (card games)
a. to deal
Ya el repartido dio, así que te toca jugar.The dealer already dealt so it's your turn to play.
darse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
27. (to thrive)
a. to grow
Esta variedad de lechuga se da en cualquier sitio.This lettuce variety can grow anywhere.
a. to hit
Me di en el codo con la mesa y ahora está dormido.I hit my elbow on the table and now it's numb.
b. to crash
Por estar texteando mientras conducía, se dio con la pared del túnel.He crashed into the tunnel wall because he was texting while driving.
c. to bump
Prende la luz, que no me quiero dar con la esquina de la cama.Turn on the light; I don't want to bump into the corner of the bed.
29. (to occur)
b. to present itself
Una oportunidad así no se da muy a menudo.Such an opportunity does not present itself very often.
a. to take to
Estoy preocupado porque Javier se ha dado a fumar demasiado.I'm worried because Javier has taken to smoking too much.
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
