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"Touch" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "tocar", and "play" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "jugar". Learn more about the difference between "touch" and "play" below.
touch(
tuhch
)
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
transitive verb
a. tocar
He touched her forehead to check her temperature.Le tocó la frente para ver si tenía fiebre.
b. rozar
He touched my hand as he handed the book to me.Me rozó la mano al darme el libro.
a. tocar
There is a mark where the chair touches the wall.Hay una marca donde la silla toca la pared.
a. tocar
Don't you dare touch a single hair on her head!¡No te atrevas a tocarle un pelo!
b. hacer
Now he can't touch me.Ahora ya no puede hacerme nada.
c. rozar
I accidentally touched the car parked next to mine.Sin querer, rocé el coche aparcado junto al mío.
a. tocar
The police asked us not to touch anything in the room.La policía nos pidió que no tocáramos nada en la habitación.
a. tocar
She hasn't touched her breakfast.No ha tocado el desayuno.
a. afectar
Global warming touches us all.El calentamiento global nos afecta a todos.
a. conmover
This song really touches me.Esta canción me conmueve de verdad.
a. llegar a
They finally touched French soil on April 5th.Finalmente llegaron a Francia el 5 de abril.
b. rozar
The thermometer touched 40ºC.El termómetro rozaba los 40º.
a. igualar
No one can touch his talent.Nadie le iguala en talento.
a. dar un sablazo de
This month he has touched me for £20 twice already.Este mes ya me ha dado dos sablazos de £20.
a. tocar
Politics are something you’re better off not touching unless someone brings it up.La política es un tema que es mejor no tocar a menos que alguien lo saque a colación.
a. tener efecto
These pills didn't even touch my headache. I need something stronger.Estas píldoras no tuvieron efecto en mi dolor de cabeza. Necesito algo más potente.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
intransitive verb
a. tocar
Don't touch!¡Sin tocar!
b. rozarse
Our hands touched while reaching for the same apple.Nuestras manos se rozaron al intentar alcanzar la misma manzana.
a. tocarse
Those wires shouldn't be touching.Esos cables no deberían tocarse.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
noun
a. el tacto
(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).
(M)
Touch is one of the most basic means of communication.El tacto es una de las formas de comunicación más básicas.
a. el tacto
(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).
(M)
The touch of his skin was soft.El tacto de su piel era suave.
b. el roce
(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).
(M)
I cannot forget the touch of her cheek against mine.No puedo olvidar el roce de su mejilla con la mía.
a. el toque
(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).
(M)
The chef added his special touch.El chef añadió su toque especial.
b. el detalle
(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).
(M)
Sending flowers was a nice touch.Enviar flores fue un detalle bonito.
a. el toque
(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).
(M)
He hasn't lost his touch with women.No ha perdido su toque con las mujeres.
a. el poco
(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).
(M)
I would add a touch more pepper.Yo le añadiría un poco más de pimienta.
b. la pizca
(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).
(F)
At the very end sprinkle it with a touch of cinnamon.Al final del todo, espolvoréalo con una pizca de canela.
a. el contacto
(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).
(M)
They kept in touch for years.Mantuvieron el contacto durante años.
a. el sentido
(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).
(M)
She has lost touch with reality.Ha perdido el sentido de la realidad.
a. el fuera de juego
(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).
(M)
He kicked the ball into touch.Le dio una patada a la pelota y la envió fuera de juego.
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play(
pley
)
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
intransitive verb
a. jugar
Ivan is playing with his friends.Iván está jugando con sus amigos.
a. tocar
The band was still playing when we left.La banda seguía tocando cuando nos fuimos.
a. jugar
They won't be able to play tonight because of the rain.No podrán jugar esta noche por la lluvia.
a. sonar
Soft music was playing in the background.De fondo sonaba una música suave.
a. jugar
What are you playing at?¿Pero tú a qué juegas?
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
transitive verb
a. jugar a
Do you want to play Parcheesi with us?¿Quieres jugar al parchís con nosotros?
b. jugar
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
(Latin America)
Playing chess requires great powers of concentration.Jugar ajedrez requiere una gran capacidad de concentración.
a. jugar a
My children play basketball at school.Mis hijos juegan al baloncesto en el colegio.
b. jugar
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
(Latin America)
I loved playing tennis when I was young.Me encantaba jugar tenis de joven.
a. jugar contra
This is the first time they have played a professional team in a professional league.Es la primera vez que juegan contra un equipo profesional en una liga profesional.
a. tocar
Can you play the piano?¿Sabes tocar el piano?
b. interpretar
The orchestra played Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in D minor.La orquesta interpretó la novena sinfonía de Beethoven en re menor.
a. interpretar
He plays Hamlet in the new production of the play.Interpreta a Hamlet en la nueva producción de la obra.
b. desempeñar
The king played an important role in the Spanish transition to democracy.El rey desempeñó un papel importante en la transición española hacia la democracia.
a. gastar
For some reason, he enjoys playing practical jokes on people.Por alguna razón le gusta gastar bromas pesadas a la gente.
a. dirigir
He played the flashlight over the cover of the book.Dirigió la luz de la linterna hacia la cubierta del libro.
a. poner
My neighbor plays the same song over and over again.Mi vecina pone la misma canción una y otra vez.
a. hacerse
Don't play the victim with me.No te hagas la víctima conmigo.
a. actuar en
The Rolling Stones played Glastonbury for the first time in 2013.Los Rolling Stones actuaron en Glastonbury por primera vez en 2013.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
noun
a. el juego
(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).
(M)
Lion cubs learn to fight through play.Los cachorros de león aprenden a pelear mediante el juego.
a. el juego
(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).
(M)
Play resumed after a short rain break.El juego comenzó de nuevo después de ser interrumpido por lluvia.
b. la jugada
(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).
(F)
Thanks to an inspired play from my teammate, we won the match.Gracias a una jugada inspirada de mi compañero de equipo, ganamos el partido.
a. la obra
(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).
(F)
The play lasts 90 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission.La obra dura 90 minutos con un entreacto de 15 minutos.
b. la obra de teatro
(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).
(F)
The acclaimed actor has starred in many plays on Broadway.El actor aclamado ha protagonizado muchas obras de teatro en Broadway.
a. el juego
(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).
(M)
We watched the play of light and shadow on the water's surface.Observamos el juego de luces y sombras en la superficie del agua.
b. la interacción
(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).
(F)
It is the play among different economic actors that determines market prices.Es la interacción entre distintos actores económicos lo que determina los precios del mercado.
a. el juego
(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).
(M)
What's wrong with your bike? - There’s too much play in the rear wheel.¿Qué tiene tu bicicleta? - La rueda de atrás tiene demasiado juego.
b. la holgura
(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).
(F)
The window rattles when the wind blows because there's too much play in the guides.La ventana se sacude con el viento porque hay demasiada holgura en las guías.
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