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"Sepultar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to bury", and "enterrar" is a transitive verb which is also often translated as "to bury". Learn more about the difference between "sepultar" and "enterrar" below.
sepultar(
seh
-
pool
-
tahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to bury
Los soldados sepultaron a los civiles muertos en una fosa común.The soldiers buried the dead civilians in a common grave.
2. (to trap)
a. to bury
El alud sepultó algunos edificios, pero por suerte no hubo víctimas fatales.The landslide buried some buildings, but luckily there were no fatalities.
3. (to conceal)
a. to hide
El niño sepultó la llave bajo un montón de papeles para que su madre se quedara en casa.The child hid the key under a pile of papers so that his mom would stay at home.
sepultarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to be absorbed
María lleva un mes sepultándose entre sus apuntes para preparar para el examen.Maria has been absorbed in her notes for a month to prepare for the exam.
b. to immerse oneself
A mi padre le encanta sepultarse entre libros cuando va a la biblioteca.My father loves to immerse himself in books when he goes to the library.
enterrar(
ehn
-
teh
-
rrahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to bury
El pirata enterró el tesoro en un lugar secreto.The pirate buried the treasure in a secret location.
2. (to entomb)
a. to bury
Enterraron a su abuelo en un cementerio fuera de la ciudad.They buried their grandfather in a cemetery outside the city.
3. (to survive)
a. to outlive
Después de enterrar a todos sus hermanos, Edith se sintió sola.After outliving all of her siblings, Edith felt lonely.
4. (to conceal)
a. to cover up
El presidente de la empresa enterró su malversación entre facturas legítimas.The company president buried his embezzlement among legitimate invoices.
6. (to stab) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to thrust into
Agarró el tenedor y lo enterró en la pechuga de pollo.He grabbed the fork and thrust it into the chicken breast.
enterrarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to cut oneself off from the world
Después de perder el campeonato, se enterró por seis meses.After losing the championship, he cut himself off from the world for six months.
