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"Rociar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to spray", and "pulverizar" is a transitive verb which is also often translated as "to spray". Learn more about the difference between "rociar" and "pulverizar" below.
rociar(
rroh
-
syahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to spatter)
b. to sprinkle (with oil or lemon juice)
Coloca el brócoli en la fuente y rocíalo con jugo de limón.Put the broccoli in the dish and sprinkle it with lemon juice.
c. to douse (with gasoline)
Roció la cabaña de gasolina y le prendió fuego.She doused the hut with gasoline and set fire to it.
a. to wash down with
Nada mejor para rociar los mariscos que un buen vino blanco.Nothing better to wash down a seafood meal than a good white wine.
An impersonal verb is a verb with no apparent subject (e.g., Llueve en España.).
3. (weather)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Rocía en abundancia casi todos los días.A lot of dew falls almost daily.
Era muy temprano por la mañana y había rociado.It was very early in the morning and dew had fallen.
pulverizar(
pool
-
beh
-
ree
-
sahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to spray
Mi madre solía pulverizar el perfume sobre su ropa por las mañanas.My mother used to spray perfume on her clothes in the mornings.
a. to convert into powder
La bola de demolición pulverizó el muro.The wrecking ball converted the wall into powder.
b. to pulverize
La máquina está diseñada para pulverizar las rocas y convertirlas en arena.The machine is designed to pulverize the rocks and turn them into sand.
c. to pulverise (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
El terremoto pulverizó las paredes de yeso.The earthquake pulverised the gypsum walls.
d. to crush
Un golpe seco pulverizó la frágil estructura.A heavy blow crushed the fragile structure.
3. (figurative) (to beat)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
a. to pulverize
El concursante pulverizó a sus adversarios al acertar todas las preguntas.The contestant pulverized the opposition when he got all the answers right.
b. to pulverise (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
El piloto de carreras es tan bueno que seguro que pulveriza a los demás.The race driver is so skilled that he will certainly pulverise the rest of drivers.
c. to smash
Tendrás que entrenar mucho si quieres pulverizar el récord mundial.You'll have to train a lot if you want to smash the world record.
pulverizarse
A pronominal verb phrase combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Se dio cuenta del problema.)
b. to become dust
La urna funeraria se pulverizará en el horno crematorio.The funerary urn will become dust in the crematory chamber.
