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"Apunar" is a form of "apunar", a transitive verb which is often translated as "to cause to have altitude sickness". "Puna" is a noun which is often translated as "puna". Learn more about the difference between "puna" and "apunar" below.
la puna(
poo
-
nah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
a. puna
En la puna suele haber temperaturas bajas todo el año.Temperatures on the puna are low all year round.
b. Andean plateau
Caminamos varios kilómetros por la extensa puna sin encontrar ni un solo árbol.We walked several miles through the vast Andean plateau and did not find a single tree.
2. (illness at high altitude) (South America)
Regionalism used in South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela
a. altitude sickness
Siento puna solo de imaginarme subiendo a la cumbre.I feel altitude sickness merely thinking of climbing up the summit.
b. mountain sickness
La puna provocada por el poco oxígeno nos hizo sentir mareados en lo alto de la montaña.The mountain sickness caused by the low oxygen levels made us feel dizzy high up on the mountain.
apunar(
ah
-
poo
-
nahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to cause to feel ill in the mountain) (South America)
Regionalism used in South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela
a. to cause to have altitude sickness
La ascensión al Aconcagua los apunó.The ascent of the Aconcagua caused them to have altitude sickness.
b. to cause to have mountain sickness
No acelere el paso si no quiere que el esfuerzo lo apune.Don't step up the pace if you don't want the strain to cause you to have mountain sickness.
apunarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
2. (to feel ill in the mountain) (South America)
Regionalism used in South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela
a. to get altitude sickness
Llevamos oxígeno extra por si nos apunamos.We carry extra oxygen in case we get altitude sickness.
b. to get mountain sickness
Uno de los escaladores se apunó.One of the climbers got mountain sickness.
