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"Tear" is a noun which is often translated as "la lágrima", and "snap" is a noun which is often translated as "el chasquido". Learn more about the difference between "tear" and "snap" below.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
1. (biology)
a. la lágrima (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).
A tear fell from her eye as she said goodbye.Una lágrima le cayó del ojo mientras se despedía.
2. (split)
a. el desgarrón (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).
My shirt got caught in the car door and now it has a big tear in it.Se pilló mi camiseta en la puerta del carro y ahora tiene un desgarrón.
c. el roto (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).
How embarrassing! I walked around all day with a tear in my pants and nobody told me.¡Qué vergüenza! Anduve todo el día con un roto en el pantalón y nadie me avisó.
d. el desgarre (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).
Water poured through the tear in the awning during the storm.El agua chorreaba por el desgarre del toldo durante la tormenta.
3. (medicine)
a. el desgarro (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 soccer player suffered a muscle tear when he kicked the ball.El futbolista sufrió un desgarro muscular al darle la patada al balón.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
c. desgarrar
The fall tore his meniscus and he couldn't play for weeks.La caída desgarró su menisco y no pudo jugar por semanas.
5. (to divide)
a. dividir
Their differing politics is what tore the couple apart.Sus ideas políticas diferentes es lo que dividió a la pareja.
a. arrancar
Ben pulled the curtain so hard that he tore it off the wall.Ben jaló la cortina con tanta fuerza que la arrancó de la pared.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
c. romperse
The painting tore when it fell from the wall.El cuadro se rompió cuando se cayó de la pared.
8. (to rush)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Angelica tore down the highway in her new Ferrari.Angélica se fue por la autopista a toda velocidad en su Ferrari nuevo.
We tore out of the house when we smelled the smoke.Salimos corriendo de la casa cuando olimos el humo.
snap(
snahp
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
1. (sound)
a. el chasquido (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).
With a snap of the finger, the dog comes running.Con un chasquido de los dedos, el perro viene corriendo.
b. el ruido seco (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).
I heard the snap of a breaking branch behind me, but when I turned around, no one was there.Oí tras de mí el ruido seco de una rama al romperse, pero cuando me volví, no había nadie.
2. (photograph)
a. la foto (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).
The photographer took a snap of the famous model as she was leaving the restaurant.El fotógrafo sacó una foto a la modelo famosa saliendo del restaurante.
b. la instantánea (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).
Below are some snaps taken at the accident scene.A continuación pueden verse varias instantáneas tomadas en la escena del accidente.
3. (weather)
4. (vigor)
a. la energía (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).
When the three of us play a gig together, there's a certain snap.Cuando damos un concierto los tres juntos, hay una energía especial.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
The monkey made a snap at the banana.El mono se lanzó sobre la banana.
With every snap of the dog's jaws I became even more terrified.Cada vez que el perro abría y cerraba las mandíbulas, yo me sentía más y más aterrorizado.
a. el broche (M) (on a handbag or clothes)
(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 snap on my purse doesn't seem to work.Parece que el broche de mi bolso no funciona.
b. el corchete (M) (on clothes) (Spain)
(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 Spain
She did up the snaps of her jacket and wrapped her scarf around her.Se cerró los broches de la chaqueta y se envolvió en la bufanda.
7. (colloquial) (something easy) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United States
a. facilísimo
Taking the door off will be a snap. We just have to take off the hinges.Sacar la puerta del marco será facilísimo. Solo tenemos que quitar las bisagras.
b. tirado (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
The first chapter of the book is a bit difficult, but after that it's a snap.El primer capítulo del libro es un poco difícil, pero lo demás está tirado.
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
9. (sudden)
a. repentino
Moving to New York was a snap decision.Irnos a vivir a Nueva York fue una decisión repentina.
b. instantáneo
Saving the child from being hit by the car was just a snap decision. I didn't even have time to think.Salvar al niño de ser atropellado por el carro fue una decisión instantánea. Ni tuve tiempo para pensar.
c. precipitado (reckless)
Sometimes we make snap judgments that we later regret.A veces hacemos juicios precipitados de los que luego nos arrepentimos.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. romper
The woodsman snapped a few twigs and threw them on the fire.El leñador rompió una cuantas ramitas y las echó al fuego.
b. partir
The tennis player snapped his racket in two in rage when he lost the final.Muy enfadado, el tenista partió la raqueta por la mitad cuando perdió la final.
c. quebrar
She stood up and snapped the pencil in frustration.Llena de frustración, se levantó y quebró el lápiz.
a. chasquear
Frank Sinatra started snapping his fingers and singing "The Best Is Yet to Come."Frank Sinatra empezó a chasquear los dedos y cantar "The Best Is Yet to Come".
b. no direct translation (when closing)
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
The mechanic snapped the part into place.El mecánico colocó la pieza en su sitio con un golpe seco.
The princess snapped the chest shut.La princesa cerró el cofre de golpe.
a. decir con brusquedad
"I said that's enough!" her father snapped."¡He dicho que ya basta!", dijo su padre con brusquedad.
13. (photography)
a. sacar
The reporter snapped a photo of the mayor in front of the city hall.El periodista le sacó una foto al alcalde frente al ayuntamiento.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. intentar morder
The wolf snapped at the hunter, but the hunter was able to dodge it.El lobo intentó morder al cazador, pero este pudo esquivarlo.
15. (to break)
a. no direct translation (when closing)
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
It was very windy, and the window snapped shut.Hacía mucho viento y la ventana se cerró con un golpe seco.
When the mechanism is released, the two parts of the clip snap together.Cuando se suelta el mecanismo, las dos partes de la pinza se cierran de golpe.
a. hablar con brusquedad a
I just asked the police officer a simple question, and he snapped at me.No le hice más que una simple pregunta al policía, pero me habló con brusquedad.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
The boss told him he could go home when he had finished, so he snapped into action.El jefe le dijo que podía irse a casa cuando terminara, así que enseguida se puso manos a la obra.
We don't have all day to finish this. Come on, snap to it!No tenemos todo el día para acabar esto. ¡Venga, muévete!
a. perder el control
I've never seen my mom like that before. She just snapped.Nunca he visto a mi mamá así. Sin más, perdió el control.
An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g., to run quickly, very tired).
a. crac
I heard something go snap, and I instantly knew it was my umbrella.Oí que algo hacía crac, y supe al instante que era mi paraguas.
An interjection is a short utterance that expresses emotion, hesitation, or protest (e.g., Wow!).
21. (used to express having something in common) (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
I failed the exam. What about you? - Snap.Reprobé el examen. ¿Y tú? - Lo mismo.
I studied medieval literature. - Snap!Estudié literatura medieval. - ¡Yo también!
