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"Tripping" is a form of "tripping", an adjective which is often translated as "ligero". "Stumbling" is a form of "stumble", a noun which is often translated as "el tropezón". Learn more about the difference between "tripping" and "stumbling" below.
tripping(
trihp
-
ihng
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
1. (graceful)
a. ligero
With an effortless, tripping leap, the pickpocket disappeared through the open window.Con un brinco ligero y sin esfuerzo aparente, el carterista desapareció por la ventana abierta.
b. airoso
They admired the dancer's quick, tripping steps.Admiraron los pasos rápidos y airosos de la bailarina.
stumble(
stuhm
-
buhl
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
a. el tropezón (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).
Despite suffering a few stumbles early in his career, the actor ended up winning an Oscar.A pesar de haber tenido varios tropezones al principio de su carrera, el actor terminó ganando un Óscar.
The judges will knock points off for that stumble as she came off the balance beam.Los jueces le van a descontar puntos por ese tropezón al bajar de la barra de equilibrio.
b. el traspié (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).
It was just a stumble. I didn't fall or hurt myself.Fue un traspié nada más. No llegué a caer ni me lastimé.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. tropezar
She stumbled over a tussock of grass and twisted her ankle.Tropezó con una mata de hierba y se torció el tobillo.
b. dar un traspié
He stumbled as he got out of the taxi and nearly fell.Dio un traspié al bajar del taxi y casi se cae.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
I stumbled out of bed and just got to the phone in time.Salí de la cama a tropezones y llegué al teléfono justo a tiempo.
We stumbled home, as we were both too drunk to drive.Volvimos a casa a trompicones porque los dos estábamos demasiado borrachos para manejar.
a. atrancarse
She stumbled over the word "heterogeneous," but the rest of her speech was fine.Se atrancó con la palabra "heterogeneous", pero el resto del discurso salió bien.
b. trastabillar
Nerves made him stumble, but the prompter helped him out.Los nervios lo hicieron trastabillar, pero el apuntador lo ayudó.
