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"Zambullirse" is a pronominal verb which is often translated as "to dive", and "teñir" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to dye". Learn more about the difference between "zambullirse" and "teñir" below.
zambullirse(
sahm
-
boo
-
yeer
-
seh
)A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to duck
¡Aguanta la respiración y zambúllete debajo del agua!Hold your breath and duck underwater!
3. (figurative) (to engross oneself)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
a. to submerge oneself (figurative)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
Se zambulló en su libro y no se dio cuenta que todos nos fuimos.He submerged himself in his book and didn't notice that we all left.
b. to immerse oneself (figurative)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
Viajar te da la oportunidad de zambullirte en una cultura extranjera.Travelling gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself in a foreign culture.
zambullir
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
teñir(
teh
-
nyeer
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to dye
Me gustó la camisa, pero no la tenían del color que quería, así que decidí teñirla.I liked the shirt, but they didn't have it in the color I wanted, so I decided to dye it.
b. to color (hair) (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
Yo le tiño el cabello a mi madre en casa.I color my mother's hair at home.
c. to colour (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
¿Quién te tiñe el cabello? Esas mechas te quedan perfectas.Who colours your hair? Those highlights really suit you.
a. to stain
Puse una camiseta roja con la ropa para lavar, y ahora todos mis pañuelos están teñidos de rojo.I put on a red T-shirt in with the laundry and now all my handkerchiefs are stained red.
3. (to imbue)
a. to tinge
Para muchos, ese viaje estará teñido de nostalgia y pesar.For many, that trip will be tinged with nostalgia and regret.
teñirse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
a. to dye one's hair
El color de su pelo no me parece natural. ¿Tú crees que se tiñe?The color of her hair doesn't look natural to me. Do you think she dyes her hair?
b. to color one's hair (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
Mucha gente se tiñe el cabello para disimular las canas.A lot of people color their hair to hide the gray.
c. to colour one's hair (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
¿Con qué frecuencia te tiñes el pelo?How often do you colour your hair?
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
