proves
vs
means

QUICK ANSWER

"Proves" is a form of "prove", a transitive verb which is often translated as "probar". "Means" is a form of "means", a noun which is often translated as "el medio". Learn more about the difference between "proves" and "means" below.

prove(

pruv

)

A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).

transitive verb

1. (to give proof of)

a. probar

He spent the night gathering information to prove his innocence.Se pasó la noche recopilando información para probar su inocencia.

b. demostrar

He has to prove that he was not there at the time the crime was committed.Tiene que demostrar que no se encontraba allí cuando se cometió el crimen.

c. comprobar

The report aims to prove the following facts.El informe propone comprobar los siguientes hechos.

d. acreditar

Emma had to prove her identity to enter the building.Emma tuvo que acreditar su identidad para entrar al edificio.

2. (to test)

a. probar

Several tests were carried out to prove the efficiency of the product.Se llevaron a cabo varias pruebas para probar la eficacia del producto.

3. (legal)

a. homologar

The judge proved my father's will last year.El juez homologó el testamento de mi padre el año pasado.

4. (to show one's ability)

a. demostrar lo que uno vale

He has to prove himself this quarter if he doesn't want to be laid off.Tiene que demostrar lo que vale este trimestre si no quiere que lo despidan.

An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).

intransitive verb

5. (to turn out)

a. resultar

Buying shares in that company proved a very good investment.Comprar acciones de esa compañía resultó ser muy buena inversión.

6. (culinary)

a. levar

Let the dough prove for two hours before baking it.Deja que la masa leve dos horas antes de hornearla.

b. leudar

Let the pizza dough prove for ten minutes before putting toppings on it.Deja la masa de la pizza leudar diez minutos antes de echarle los ingredientes.

means(

minz

)

A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).

noun

1. (method)

a. el medio

(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).

(M)

Politics only ennobles when it is a means to serve others.La política sólo enaltece cuando es un medio para servir al prójimo.

A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.

plural noun

2. (reasons)

a. los medios

(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).

(M)

The means are justified if we consider all options.Los medios están justificados si consideramos todas las opciones.

3. (wealth)

a. los recursos

(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).

(M)

The thief lacks the means to pay a good lawyer.El ladrón no tiene los recursos para pagar un buen abogado.

b. los medios

(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).

(M)

Not everyone has the means to pursue higher education.No todo el mundo tiene los medios para proseguir los estudios superiores.

mean

A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).

transitive verb

4. (to signify)

a. significar

"Monsieur" means "sir" in French."Monsieur" significa "señor" en francés.

b. querer decir

What does this paragraph mean?¿Qué quiere decir este párrafo?

5. (to refer to)

a. querer decir

What did you mean when you said you didn't think this was working?¿Qué quisiste decir cuando dijiste que esto no está funcionando?

6. (to imply)

a. referirse

When I said I didn't want to talk to anybody, I didn't mean you.Cuando dije que no quería hablar con nadie, no me refería a ti.

7. (to intend)

a. tener la intención de

I didn't mean to say the things that I said. I'm sorry.No tuve la intención de decir lo que dije. Lo siento.

8. (to be important)

This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.

no direct translation

I can't imagine life without you. You mean the world to me.No me imagino vivir sin ti. Lo eres todo para mí.

Money doesn't mean anything to Rose. She'd rather have love.El dinero no es importante para Rose. Preferiría el amor.

A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).

noun

9. (average)

a. la media

(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).

(F)

The mean of the above numbers is 22.La media de los números anteriores es 22.

An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).

adjective

10. (nasty)

a. malo

You're so mean! All you ever do is criticize me!¡Eres tan malo! ¡Te pasas el día criticándome!

b. mezquino

You have to demonstrate that the teacher is being mean and not just being strict.Tienes que demostrar que el profesor está siendo mezquino y no simplemente estricto.

11. (miserly)

a. tacaño

Her first husband was wealthy but mean. He hated to spend money.Su primer marido era rico pero tacaño. Odiaba gastar dinero.

b. mezquino

Ebenezer Scrooge was a very mean individual when it came to money.Ebenezer Scrooge fue un hombre muy mezquino en lo que tenía que ver con el dinero.

12. (average)

a. medio

Find the mean number of girls born in families with six children.Encuentra el número medio de niñas nacidas en familias con seis hijos.

13.

A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).

(colloquial)

(excellent)