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"Patinar" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "to skate", and "practicar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to practice". Learn more about the difference between "patinar" and "practicar" below.
patinar(
pah
-
tee
-
nahr
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
1. (sport)
a. to skate
María patina en el parque todos los sábados por la mañana.Maria skates in the park every Saturday morning.
b. to roller-skate (with wheels)
Fuimos a patinar a la pista junto al lago.We went roller-skating at the rink next to the lake.
c. to ice-skate (on ice)
En invierno salen a patinar al lago.They go ice-skating on the lake in winter.
d. to rollerblade (with inline skates)
Tienes que patinar muy bien si quieres jugar hockey sobre patines.You've got to be very good at rollerblading if you want to play inline hockey.
2. (surface)
3. (colloquial) (to make a blunder)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to slip up
Es un buen cineasta, pero con esa película patinó.He's a good filmmaker, but he slipped up on that film.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
patinarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
practicar(
prahk
-
tee
-
kahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to train)
a. to practice (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
Pasé tres horas practicando piano.I spent three hours practicing piano.
b. to practise (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Hay que practicar mucho para mejorar cualquier destreza.You need to practise a lot in order to improve any skill.
2. (sports)
3. (medicine)
a. to perform
Puede que sea preciso practicar un trasplante para salvarlo.It may be necessary to perform a transplant to save him.
4. (religious)
a. to practice (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
Nació católico, pero ahora practica el budismo.He was born a Catholic, but now he practices Buddhism.
b. to practise (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
¿Practicas el anglicanismo, Nigel?Do you practise Anglicanism, Nigel?
