embotellar

to bottle

embotellar(ehm-boh-teh-yahr)

A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g. I bought a book.).

transitive verb

1. (to put in a bottle)

a. to bottle

Embotellamos el vino y lo enviamos a la bodega.We bottled the wine and sent it to the cellar.

2. (to hold up)

a. to block

Una manifestación está embotellando el tráfico en el centro de la ciudad.A demonstration is blocking the traffic downtown.

3. (to obstruct ships)

a. to bottle up

Los rebeles hundieron barcos en el río para embotellar a las fragatas enemigas y dispararles con cañones desde la costa.The rebels sank ships in the river to bottle up the enemy frigates and shoot them with cannons from the shore.

embotellarse

A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g. Te ves cansado.).

pronominal verb

4. (to memorize)

Regionalism used in the Dominican Republic

(Dominican Republic)

Regionalism used in Puerto Rico

(Puerto Rico)

a. to learn by heart

El político se había embotellado el discurso antes de subir al escenario.The politician had learned the speech by heart before going on stage.

5. (to be stuck in traffic)

Regionalism used in South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela

(South America)

a. to get caught in a traffic jam

Nos embotellamos y llegamos a la reunión con una hora de retraso.We got caught in a traffic jam and arrived to the meeting an hour late.

embotellar

A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g. I bought a book.).

transitive verb

1. (tráfico)

a. to block

2. (líquido)

a. to bottle

embotellar

transitive verb

1 [+líquido] to bottle

2 (Mil) to bottle up

3 (S. Cone) (Caribe) [+discurso] to prepare beforehand; memorize

pronominal verb

embotellarse

1 (Automóviles) [+tráfico] to get into a jam; [+vehículo] to get caught in a traffic jam

2 (Caribe) to learn a speech off by heart