aspirar

to inhale

to vacuum

aspirar(ahs-pee-rahr)

transitive verb

1. (to take into body)

a. to inhale

Sara se inclinó sobre la flor para aspirar su fragancia.

Sara bent over the flower to inhale its perfume.

b. to breathe in

Lydia se cubrió la cara con una bufanda para evitar aspirar el aire frío.

Lydia covered her face with a scarf to avoid breathing in the cold air.

c. to sniff (a substance)

Hay un par de tipos aspirando algo en ese callejón.

There are a couple of guys sniffing something in that alley.

2. (to clean with a vacuum cleaner)

a. to vacuum

Este accesorio se usa para aspirar el polvo de los muebles.

This accessory is used for vacuuming dust from furniture.

b. to hoover

(United Kingdom)

Tengo que aspirar mi habitación.

I must hoover my room.

c. to pick up (the vacuum cleaner)

La aspiradora no aspiraba el polvo porque la bolsa estaba llena.

The vacuum cleaner wasn't picking up dust because the bag was full.

3. (to suction)

a. to suck in

El calentador aspira aire frío.

The heater sucks in cold air.

b. to suck up

Esta máquina aspira la saliva del paciente.

This machine sucks up the patient's saliva.

4. (linguistics)

a. to aspirate

Tienes que aspirar más la hache.

You need to aspirate the "h" more.

intransitive verb

5. (to aim; used with "a")

a. to hope to

Mi hijo aspira a ser astronauta.

My son hopes to become an astronaut.

b. to aspire to

El candidato aspiraba a convertirse en presidente.

The candidate aspired to become president.

6. (to clean)

a. to vacuum

¡Tranquila, puedes pasar! Todavía no he aspirado.

Don't worry, you can come in! I haven't vacuumed yet.

b. to hoover

(United Kingdom)

Quítate los zapatos para entrar, que acabo de aspirar.

Take your shoes off if you're coming in; I've just hoovered.

c. to pick up (the vacuum cleaner)

Mi aspiradora no aspira.

My vacuum cleaner isn't picking up.

7. (to take in air)

a. to breathe in

Cálmate, aspira y espira despacio.

Calm down, breathe in and breathe out slowly.

b. to inhale

Lucas se acercó a la puerta y aspiró hondo.

Lucas went to the door and inhaled deeply.