menear

to shake

menear(meh-neh-ahr)

transitive verb

1. (to move to and fro)

a. to shake

Cuando le pregunté si venía, Fernando meneó la cabeza y dijo que no.

When I asked him if he was coming, Fernando shook his head and said he wasn't.

b. to move back and forth

Los bailarines empezaron a menear las caderas cuando sonó su canción.

The dancers started to move their hips back and forth when their song played.

c. to swing

Para relajarte un poco, estira y menea los brazos de arriba abajo diez veces.

To relax your muscles, stretch and swing your arms up and down ten times.

d. to wag

Mi perro ladra y menea la cola en círculos cuando llego a casa.

My dogs barks and wags his tail in circles when I get home.

e. to wiggle

Mira cómo ese gusanito menea la cabeza.

Look how that little worm wiggles its head.

2.

(colloquial)

(to get on with)

a. to get moving

(colloquial)

Basta de charla, ahora hay que menear esto un poco.

Well, enough talking! Now we have to get this moving.

3. (to agitate)

a. to shake

Menea bien el jugo para que quede bien mezclado.

Shake the juice well so that it's properly mixed

4. (to whisk)

a. to stir

Después de menear el café con la cucharita, Manuel me preguntó si había galletas.

After stirring his coffee with his teaspoon, Manuel asked me if there were any cookies.

menearse

pronominal verb

5. (to move oneself)

a. to sway

¡Míra cómo se menea Pilar cuando camina!

Look how Pilar sways when she walks!

b. to move about

¿Puedes quedarte quieto, por favor? ¡Te estás meneando mucho!

Could you stay still, please? You're moving about a lot!

c. to shake

Se notaba cómo se meneaba el suelo durante el terremoto.

You could see how the earth was shaking during the earthquake.

6.

(colloquial)

(to hurry up)

a. to get a move on

(colloquial)

¡Vamos! ¡A menearse que es tarde!

Let's get a move on; it's getting late!