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"Tropezarse con" is a pronominal verb phrase which is often translated as "to bump into", and "tropezar" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "to trip". Learn more about the difference between "tropezarse con" and "tropezar" below.
tropezarse con(
troh
-
peh
-
sahr
-
seh
kohn
)A pronominal verb phrase combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Se dio cuenta del problema.)
1. (colloquial) (to come across)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
b. to run into
Ayer me tropecé con tu mamá en el súper.Yesterday, I ran into your mother at the supermarket.
tropezar con
A transitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and requires a direct object (e.g., take out the trash.).
a. to trip on
Mi abuela tropezó con un escalón, se cayó y se rompió la cadera.My grandmother tripped on a step, fell down, and broke her hip.
b. to bump into
Estaba caminando escuchado música cuando tropecé con una farola.I was walking and listening to music when I bumped into a lamp post.
c. to stumble over
Marisa se tropezó con una raíz mientras corría en el bosque.Marisa stumbled over a root while running in the wood.
a. to run into
A lo largo de su vida, tropezó con muchos obstáculos pero logró superarlos.Along his life, he ran into many obstacles, but he managed to overcome them.
b. to encounter
Tropezamos con algunas dificultades que podrían retrasar la finalización del proyecto.We encountered some difficulties that might delay the completion of the project.
tropezar(
troh
-
peh
-
sahr
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
b. to stumble
Tropecé y caí en la piscina con toda la ropa puesta.I stumbled and fell into the pool with all of my clothes on.
tropezarse
A reciprocal verb is a verb that indicates that two or more subjects perform an action on each other (e.g., Ellos se abrazan.).
2. (to meet)
a. to run into
Siempre nos tropezamos en el supermercado.We always run into each other at the supermarket.
