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"Siéntate" is a form of "sentar", a transitive verb which is often translated as "to sit". "Tumba" is a form of "tumbar", a transitive verb which is often translated as "to knock down". Learn more about the difference between "siéntate" and "tumba" below.
sentar(
sehn
-
tahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to set
Sentamos las bases de la cooperación internacional.We set the foundations for international cooperation.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
4. (food)
a. to agree with
Me gusta el ajo pero no me sienta bien.I like garlic, but it doesn't agree with me.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
No me sentó bien tu actitud. Un poco de respeto, por favor.I don't appreciate your attitude. Show a little respect, please.
Deberías pedirle perdón a tu hermana. Tu comentario no le sentó bien.You should apologize to your sister. Your comment upset her.
sentarse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
tumbar(
toom
-
bahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to topple)
a. to knock down
Martín tumbó al matón con un puñetazo rápido en la mandíbula.Martin knocked the bully down with a quick punch to the jaw.
b. to kick down (using one's foot)
Como sus hijos no le permitían entrar en casa, tumbó la puerta.Because his children wouldn't let him into the house, he kicked down the door.
c. to knock over
El hedor de la comida podrida casi me tumbó.The stench of the rotting food almost knocked me over.
d. to demolish
Tumbaron el teatro abandonado para construir un aparcamiento para el restaurante de al lado.They demolished the abandoned theater to build a parking lot for the restaurant next door.
2. (to chop down a tree) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to cut down
El ayuntamiento tiene proyectado tumbar unos eucaliptos en lo alto de la montaña.The town council is planning to cut down some eucalyptus trees at the top of the mountain.
b. to fell
Los leñadores pasaron la tarde entera tumbando árboles para la papelera.The lumberjacks spent the entire afternoon felling trees for the paper mill.
3. (colloquial) (to kill) (Colombia)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Colombia
b. to bump off (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
La mafia lo tumbó por no pagar sus deudas.The mob bumped him off for not paying his debts.
c. to do in (colloquial) (figurative)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
Seguro que tu padre te va a tumbar si llegas tarde de nuevo a casa esta noche.Your dad's going to do you in if you come home late again tonight.
4. (colloquial) (education) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
a. to fail
Los profesores lo tumbaron en álgebra y tuvo que repetir curso.The teachers failed him in algebra, and he had to repeat the course.
b. to flunk (colloquial) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United States
Si no entregas tu ensayo final, te tumbaré.If you don't submit your final paper, I'm going to flunk you.
tumbarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
5. (to recline)
a. to lie down
Tengo dolor cabeza, así que me voy a tumbar por una hora.I have a headache, so I am going to lie down for an hour.
b. to stretch out
Tengo muchas ganas de tumbarme y dormir en mi hamaca todo el fin de semana.I look forward to stretching out and sleeping in my hammock all weekend.
