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"Montar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to ride", and "subir" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to go up". Learn more about the difference between "montar" and "subir" below.
montar(
mohn
-
tahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to ride
Mabel aprendió a montar el caballo de su abuelo cuando tenía apenas cuatro años.Mabel learned to ride her grandfather's horse when she was just four years old.
2. (to get on)
a. to mount
¿Puedes agarrar la cabeza de la yegua para que la pueda montar?Can you hold the mare's head so that I can mount her?
a. to put together
Amy y John tardaron cuatro horas en montar su cama nueva.It took Amy and John four hours to put together their new bed.
b. to assemble
Para montar esta bicicleta, se necesita una llave ajustable.To assemble this bicycle, an adjustable wrench is needed.
c. to put up
No vamos a poder montar este librero de roble sin ayuda.We aren't going to be able to put up this oak bookcase without help.
a. to set up
Mi cuñada montó una tienda de productos orgánicos en el centro.My sister-in-law set up an organic goods store downtown.
6. (to raise)
7. (film)
8. (sewing)
a. to cast on
Mi abuela me enseñó a montar puntos con dos agujas.My grandmother showed me how to cast on stitches with two needles.
10. (culinary)
a. to cock
El ladrón montó su pistola y gritó, "¡Nunca me atraparán con vida!"The robber cocked his pistol and shouted, "You'll never take me alive!"
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
13. (to climb on)
a. to come to
El total de las reparaciones a su casa monta a 100,000 dólares.The total of the repairs to your house comes to 100,000 dollars.
a. to cover part of
La etiqueta del precio monta sobre la cubierta del libro.The price tag covers part of the cover of the book.
montarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
17. (to get up on)
b. to get onto
¿De verdad se van a montar a ese toro enorme?Are you really going to get onto that giant bull?
d. to get into (a vehicle)
Angie se montó a la camioneta y se fue rumbo al campo.Angie got into the truck and drove toward the countryside.
18. (colloquial) (to manage) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
a. to handle
Yo sé que trabajar 12 horas seguidas es duro, pero me lo puedo montar.I know that working 12 hours straight is tough, but I can handle it.
subir(
soo
-
beer
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to ascend)
c. to climb
Los prisioneros subieron el muro y escaparon.The prisoners climbed the wall and escaped.
b. to raise (voice, tone)
¿Puedes subir la voz, por favor? No te oigo.Can you raise your voice, please? I can't hear you.
5. (computing)
a. to upload
Si quieres ver las fotos, ya las subí a mi cuenta de Instagram.If you want to see the photos, I already uploaded them to my Instagram account.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
6. (to ascend)
a. to go up (moving away)
¿Por qué no subes a ver a Alex en su habitación?Why don't you go up and see Alex in his room?
b. to come up (moving closer)
¿Subes o te quedas viendo la televisión?Are you coming up or are you going to keep watching TV?
7. (to board)
a. to get on (a bus, a plane, a train)
Si no subes al autobús ahora lo perderás.If you don't get on the shuttle now, you'll miss it.
subirse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
10. (to ascend)
a. to get on
Nos subimos al tren justo cuando estaba a punto de salir.We got on the train just as it was about to leave.
12. (to make drunk)
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
a. to pull up
Súbete los jeans que se te ven los calzoncillos.Pull your jeans up because you can see your shorts.
