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"Surcar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to plow", and "labrar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to work". Learn more about the difference between "surcar" and "labrar" below.
surcar(
soor
-
kahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to plow (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
Los campesinos usaban caballos y bueyes para surcar los campos.The peasants used horses and oxen to plow the fields.
b. to plough (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Los granjeros se despertaron al amanecer para surcar los campos.The farmers woke up at daybreak to plough the fields.
3. (literary) (to travel across)
A word or phrase restricted in usage to literature or established writing (e.g., sex, once upon a time).
a. to cut through
La lancha surcó el río con gran velocidad.The motorboat cut through the river at great speed.
b. to sail through (water)
El galeón español surcó los siete mares.The Spanish galleon sailed through the seven seas.
c. to fly through (the sky)
El OVNI surcó los cielos desapercibido.The UFO flew through the sky unnoticed.
labrar(
lah
-
brahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to farm)
a. to work
Los colonos labraban la tierra y criaban ganado.The settlers worked the land and raised cattle.
b. to cultivate
Los campesinos que labraban los campos se tuvieron que mudar a la ciudad.The peasants that cultivated the fields had to move to the city.
c. to plow (with a plow) (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
Los granjeros chinos se sirven de búfalos para labrar los campos de arroz.Chinese farmers use water buffaloes to plow the rice fields.
d. to plough (with a plow) (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Jesús se subió al tractor y labró los campos de trigo.Jesus jumped on the tractor and ploughed the wheat fields.
2. (to shape)
b. to carve (wood or marble)
Mi abuelo me hizo un juguete labrando un pedazo de madera.My grandfather carved a piece of wood into a toy for me.
3. (to create)
a. to carve out
Luciano labró su carrera interpretativa a base de mucho esfuerzo.Luciano worked hard to carve out his acting career.
b. to bring about
Con tanta negligencia y falta de sentido común en los negocios, no haces más que labrar tu propia desgracia.With such negligence and lack of common sense in business, you're just bringing about your own misfortune.
labrarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to carve out for oneself
Mariana aceptó la oferta de trabajo y se labró un porvenir.Mariana took up the job offer and carved out a future for herself.
b. to bring about
Se labró su propia ruina invirtiendo en fondos de alto riesgo.He brought about his own ruin investing in hedge funds.
