vs
QUICK ANSWER
"Reñir" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to tell off", and "teñir" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to dye". Learn more about the difference between "reñir" and "teñir" below.
reñir(
rreh
-
nyeer
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to tell off
El vecino riñó a los chicos por hacer mucho ruido en la calle.The neighbor told the kids off for making so much noise in the street.
b. to scold
Ella siempre les riñe como si fueran sus propios hijos.She always scolds them as if they were her own children.
c. to chew out
Mi padre me riñó porque lo desperté de su siesta.My father chewed me out because I woke him up from his nap.
2. (to fight)
a. to wage
Son pocos, pero no les da miedo reñir una batalla para proteger sus tierras.There are only a few of them, but they're not afraid to wage a battle to protect their lands.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to argue
Los oí riñendo en voz baja en la sala.I heard them arguing in hushed voices in the living room.
b. to fight
Riñó con su madre esta tarde por lo de ayer.She fought with her mom this afternoon about what happened yesterday.
c. to have a falling-out
Ya no se hablan desde que riñeron hace un mes.They're not speaking anymore since they had a falling-out a month ago.
d. to quarrel
Siempre reñíamos sobre tonterías cuando éramos pequeños.We always quarreled over stupid things when we were little.
e. to row (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Están riñendo de alguna chorrada.They're rowing about some silly little thing.
teñir(
teh
-
nyeer
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to dye
Me gustó la camisa, pero no la tenían del color que quería, así que decidí teñirla.I liked the shirt, but they didn't have it in the color I wanted, so I decided to dye it.
b. to color (hair) (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
Yo le tiño el cabello a mi madre en casa.I color my mother's hair at home.
c. to colour (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
¿Quién te tiñe el cabello? Esas mechas te quedan perfectas.Who colours your hair? Those highlights really suit you.
a. to stain
Puse una camiseta roja con la ropa para lavar, y ahora todos mis pañuelos están teñidos de rojo.I put on a red T-shirt in with the laundry and now all my handkerchiefs are stained red.
3. (to imbue)
a. to tinge
Para muchos, ese viaje estará teñido de nostalgia y pesar.For many, that trip will be tinged with nostalgia and regret.
teñirse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
a. to dye one's hair
El color de su pelo no me parece natural. ¿Tú crees que se tiñe?The color of her hair doesn't look natural to me. Do you think she dyes her hair?
b. to color one's hair (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
Mucha gente se tiñe el cabello para disimular las canas.A lot of people color their hair to hide the gray.
c. to colour one's hair (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
¿Con qué frecuencia te tiñes el pelo?How often do you colour your hair?
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
