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"Pintar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to paint", and "colorear" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to color". Learn more about the difference between "pintar" and "colorear" below.
pintar(
peen
-
tahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (with paint)
2. (to draw)
a. to draw
Mi hija suele pintar cachorros usando una plantilla.My daughter usually draws puppies using a template.
3. (to smudge)
a. to get
Todavía está mojada. Ten cuidado que no te pinte.It’s still wet. Be careful you don't get any on you.
Se rompió mi pluma y me pintó la manos totalmente de azul.My pen broke and got blue ink all over my hands.
a. to make something out
Lo pintó muy emocionado pero en realidad la película nos puso a dormir.He made it out to be so exciting, but really the movie just sent us to sleep.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
5. (with paint)
6. (to write)
a. to write
¿Qué quieres que haga con una pluma que no pinta?What do you want me to do with a pen that doesn't write?
7. (to appear)
8. (to relate)
a. to fit in (colloquial)
¿Dónde pinta el director en todo este escándalo?Where does the principal fit into this whole scandal?
pintarse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
a. to put one's makeup on
Se pinta todos los días antes de ir a trabajar.She puts her makeup on every day before work.
b. to put makeup on
Llegaron del colegio, se pintaron un poco y salieron directamente.They came home from school, put some makeup on and headed straight out.
c. to do one's makeup
¿Tienes un espejo? Necesito pintarse.Do you have a mirror? I need to do my makeup.
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to leave
Hay que pintarnos a las 3:00 pm si vamos a llegar a tiempo.We need to leave at 3:00 pm if we are going to arrive on time.
colorear(
koh
-
loh
-
reh
-
ahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to color (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
Voy a colorear el tejado de la casa de rojo, y las puertas y ventanas de azul.I'm going to color the roof of the house red and the doors and windows blue.
b. to colour (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Tienes que hacer un dibujo y colorearlo con crayones.You have to draw a picture and colour it with crayons.
2. (to tint)
3. (to add to)
a. to embellish
A mi abuela le gusta colorear los cuentos de hadas con detalles que no están en los libros.My grandma likes to embellish fairy tales with details that are not in the books.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
4. (to ripen)
a. to redden
Los pimientos colorearon y ya se pueden comer.The peppers have reddened and can now be eaten.
