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"Swim" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "nadar", and "sink" is a noun which is often translated as "el lavabo". Learn more about the difference between "swim" and "sink" below.
swim(
swihm
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. dar vueltas
I was so tired the words on the page swam before my eyes.Estaba tan cansado que las palabras en la página daban vueltas ante mis ojos.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. cruzar a nado
She's going to try to swim the Strait of Gibraltar.Ella va a intentar cruzar el estrecho de Gibraltar a nado.
b. nadar
I dare you to swim even one length of the pool.Te reto a nadar aunque sea un largo de la piscina.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
a. el baño (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).
They went for a swim in Ik Kil, a natural sinkhole in the Mayan Riviera.Se dieron un baño en Ik Kil, un cenote en la Riviera Maya.
b. el chapuzón (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).
Let's go for a swim before dinner.Vamos a darnos un chapuzón antes de cenar.
sink(
sihngk
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
b. el lavamanos (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).
Wash your hands in the sink before having lunch.Lávate las manos en el lavamanos antes de comer.
a. el fregadero (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).
Leave the dirty dishes in the sink.Deja los platos sucios en el fregadero.
d. el lavaplatos (M) (Andes) (Chile)
(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).
Regionalism used in Chile
I need to get the sink repaired - it's got a crack.Tengo que hacer reparar el lavaplatos. Tiene una rajadura.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
4. (to ruin)
5. (to open up)
6. (to bury)
a. enterrar
The pipes are sunk into the ground seven feet deep.Las tuberías están enterradas en el suelo a siete pies.
7. (to invest)
a. invertir
My parents are sinking a lot of money into my education.Mis padres están invirtiendo mucho dinero en mi educación.
8. (sports)
9. (colloquial) (to down) (United Kingdom)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
a. tragarse
We ate dinner, sank a couple of drinks, and went to bed exhausted.Cenamos, nos tragamos un par de copas y nos fuimos a dormir exhaustos.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
10. (to submerge)
11. (to slump)
b. desplomarse
I was so tired that I sank into my bed.Estaba tan cansado que me desplomé en la cama.
12. (to lapse)
13. (to fall)
a. caer en picado
The company's benefits sank last quarter.Los beneficios de la empresa cayeron en picado el trimestre pasado.
14. (to deteriorate)
a. empeorar
His health was sinking, and he knew that his death was approaching.Su salud empeoraba y sabía que su muerte se estaba acercando.
