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"Serve" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "servir", and "spike" is a noun which is often translated as "el pincho". Learn more about the difference between "serve" and "spike" below.
serve(
suhrv
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. servir
They serve dinner at six in the hotel.Sirven la cena a las seis en el hotel.
What time will we serve dinner?¿A qué hora vamos a servir la cena?
a. servir a
He has served his country since he enrolled in the army when he was 19 years old.Ha servido a su patria desde que se alistó en el ejército con 19 años.
a. cumplir (a prison sentence)
The scammer will serve a couple of years in prison before he can get probation.El estafador cumplirá un par de años en la cárcel antes de obtener la libertad condicional.
b. hacer (one's apprenticeship)
His father was a carpenter, so he served his apprenticeship in his father's studio.Su padre era carpintero, así que él hizo su aprendizaje en el taller de su padre.
a. atender
Can you answer the phone, please? I'm serving a customer at the moment.¿Puedes contestar la llamada, por favor? Estoy atendiendo a un cliente ahora mismo.
7. (tennis)
8. (legal)
a. entregar a
I was caught cheating on my wife with another woman, so she served me with divorce papers the next day.Me pillaron engañando a mi esposa con otra mujer, así que ella me entregó los papeles del divorcio al día siguiente.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. servir
He went to prison because he refused to serve in the army.Lo encarcelaron porque se negó a servir en el ejército.
a. atender
No one seemed to be serving, so I left the shop.Parecía que no había nadie atendiendo, así que me marché de la tienda.
11. (to be useful)
a. servir
I only have colored paper, but that will probably serve for what I need to print.Solo tengo papel de colores, pero creo que servirá para lo que necesito imprimir.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
13. (tennis)
a. el servicio (M)
(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).
The serve of a tennis player is his biggest weapon.El servicio de un jugador de tenis es su arma más poderosa.
spike(
spayk
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
a. el pincho (M)
(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).
We can fasten this end of the rope to the ground with this spike.Podemos atar este extremo de la cuerda al suelo con este pincho.
c. el barrote (M) (on a railing or a fence)
(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).
The pointed spikes on top of the fence are a deterrent to potential burglars.Los barrotes puntiagudos en la parte superior de la cerca tienen un efecto disuasivo para ladrones potenciales.
d. el clavo (M) (on sports shoes)
(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).
The spikes on these shoes will give you that extra traction.Los clavos de estas zapatillas te darán la tracción extra que necesitas.
a. el aumento brusco (M)
(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).
What is the spike in this patient's blood sugar due to?¿A qué se debe el aumento brusco de la tasa de azúcar en la sangre de este paciente?
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. aumentar bruscamente
The crime rate has spiked over the last month.La índice de crímenes ha aumentado bruscamente durante el último mes.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
6. (to pierce)
7. (colloquial) (to add a substance to a drink)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Someone must have spiked my drink because I can't remember what happened the rest of the night.Alguien tiene que haber echado algo a mi bebida porque no me acuerdo de nada que pasó el resto de la noche.
We're going to spike the cider with whiskey.Vamos a echarle whiskey a la sidra.
8. (sports)
a. rematar (volleyball)
She jumped and spiked the ball over the net.Saltó y remató la pelota por encima de la red.
b. remachar (volleyball) (Spain)
Regionalism used in Spain
Nobody can stop him when he spikes the ball.Nadie lo puede detener cuando remacha la pelota.
c. lanzar contra el suelo (American footbal)
The player ran into the end zone and spiked the ball.El jugador entró corriendo a la zona final y lanzó el balón contra el suelo.
9. (to end)
a. acabar con
The senator spiked the rumor that he would vote against the bill.El Senador acabó con el rumor de que votaría en contra del proyecto de ley.
spikes
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
10. (sports)
a. las zapatillas con clavos (F)
(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).
I need to buy some spikes for track and field.Tengo que comprarme unas zapatillas con clavos para el atletismo.
b. las zapatillas de clavos (F)
(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).
I went to the sports store to buy some spikes.Fui a la tienda de deportes para comprarme zapatillas de clavos.
