sofocar

to suffocate

sofocar(soh-foh-kahr)

transitive verb

1. (to choke)

a. to suffocate

El humo del fuego sofocó al bombero.

The smoke from the fire suffocated the firefighter.

b. to stifle

El viento abrasador de la ciudad en verano sofoca a los peatones.

The hot city wind stifles pedestrians in the summer.

2. (to extinguish)

a. to put out

Juan consiguió sofocar las llamas con una manta.

Juan was able to put out the flames with a blanket.

b. to smother

Sofocar el incendio resultó imposible por culpa del viento.

Smothering the fire was impossible because of the wind.

3. (to quiet down)

a. to crush

La policía no pudo sofocar la ira de los manifestantes.

The police weren't able to crush the protesters' anger.

b. to quell

Las disculpas del cantante por el retraso sofocaron los abucheos del público.

The singer's apologies for the delay quelled the audience's booing.

4. (to embarrass)

a. to mortify

La directora sofocó a la bailarina al decirle que tenía que adelgazar.

The director mortified the dancer when she told her to lose weight.

5. (to irk)

a. to annoy

El llanto del bebé sofocaba a los compañeros pasajeros en el avión.

The baby's cry annoyed fellow passengers on the plane.

sofocarse

pronominal verb

6. (to choke)

a. to suffocate

El calor que hace en Madrid en verano me sofoca.

The hot weather in Madrid in the summer suffocates me.

b. to get out of breath

Es normal sofocarse después de correr 10 kilómetros.

It's normal to get out of breath after running 10 kilometers.

7.

(colloquial)

(to be overwhelmed)

a. to get upset

Deberías relajarte y no sofocarte por tonterías.

You should relax and not get upset over nothing.

b. to get worked up

(colloquial)

María se sofoca cada vez que tiene exámenes.

Maria gets worked up every time she has exams.

8.

(colloquial)

(to be ashamed)

a. to get embarrassed

El alumno se sofocó cuando el profesor lo reprendió delante de todos.

The student got embarrassed when the teacher told him off in front of everyone.

b. to become embarrassed

Siempre me sofoco cuando tengo que ponerme en bikini.

I always become embarrassed when I have to put my bikini on.

9. (to get mad)

a. to get angry

Si no contesto a los mensajes, mi novia se sofoca.

If I don't answer her messages, my girlfriend gets angry.

b. to get upset

Me sofoqué porque fui la última en enterarme de la noticia.

I got upset because I was the last one to hear the news.

sofocar

transitive verb

1. (ahogar)

a. to suffocate, to stifle

2. (incendio)

a. to put out, to smother

3. (rebelión)

a. to suppress, to quell

4. (avergonzar)

a. to mortify

pronominal verb

5. (ahogarse)

a. to suffocate

6. (avergonzarse)

a. to go red as a

b. beetroot o (United Kingdom)

c. beet

(United States)

7. (irritarse)

a. to get hot under the collar

Copyright © 2006 Harrap Publishers Limited

sofocar

transitive verb

1 (ahogar) [+calor] to stifle; [+fuego, humo] to suffocate

este tiempo tan húmedo me sofoca I find this humid weather stifling

2 (apagar) [+incendio] to smother; put out; [+rebelión] to crush; put down; [+epidemia] to stamp out

3 (enojar) to anger; upset

4 (avergonzar) to embarrass

5 (sonrojar) to make ... blush

pronominal verb

sofocarse

1 (ahogarse) (por el esfuerzo) to get out of breath; (por el calor) to suffocate

2 (sonrojarse) to blush

3 (avergonzarse) to get embarrassed

4 (enojarse) to get angry; get upset

no vale la pena que te sofoques it's not worth upsetting yourself about it

5 (Centroamérica) (México) (preocuparse) to worry; be anxious