evaporarse
evaporarse in 30 Sekunden
- Evaporarse is a reflexive verb meaning to turn from liquid into gas, like water boiling or drying in the sun.
- It is widely used metaphorically in Spanish to describe money, feelings, or people disappearing suddenly and completely.
- The reflexive pronoun 'se' (me, te, se, nos, os, se) is essential for the verb to mean 'to vanish' or 'to change state'.
- Common contexts include cooking (reducing sauces), finance (losing money), and social situations (leaving a party unnoticed).
The Spanish verb evaporarse is a pronominal verb that primarily describes the physical process of a liquid transforming into a gaseous state. In its most literal sense, it is used in scientific, culinary, and meteorological contexts. For example, when you boil water in a pot, the liquid eventually turns into steam and disappears into the air; in Spanish, we say the water se evapora. This physical change is a staple of everyday life, from the way clothes dry on a line to the way puddles vanish after a rainstorm under the heat of the sun. The reflexive pronoun 'se' is essential here, as it indicates that the liquid is undergoing the transformation itself. Without the 'se', the verb 'evaporar' would mean to actively turn something else into vapor, which is much less common in daily speech.
- Scientific Context
- Used to describe phase changes in thermodynamics, such as water turning into water vapor at boiling point or through surface evaporation.
Beyond the laboratory, evaporarse is a powerful metaphorical tool used to describe the sudden, mysterious, or unexpected disappearance of something that was once tangible or present. This is perhaps its most frequent use in casual and professional Spanish. When money, opportunities, or even people seem to vanish without a clear explanation, this verb captures the essence of that disappearance perfectly. It implies that the thing didn't just move or get lost; it ceased to exist in its current form, much like steam vanishing into the atmosphere. It carries a nuance of 'vanishing into thin air,' which is why it is so common in discussions about finance, social dynamics, and personal emotions.
Después de la crisis, los ahorros de toda su vida parecieron evaporarse en cuestión de semanas.
In social settings, you might hear someone use this verb to describe a person who leaves a party or a meeting without saying goodbye. If someone was there one minute and gone the next, they se evaporaron. This usage is slightly informal but very descriptive, suggesting a quick and silent exit. Similarly, it is used to describe abstract concepts like hope, tension, or interest. If a romantic spark or a political movement loses its momentum and fades away, it is said to have evaporated. This versatility makes it a core verb for B1 learners to master, as it bridges the gap between concrete physical descriptions and nuanced abstract expression.
- Financial Context
- Commonly used to describe the rapid loss of value in stocks, the disappearance of funds due to inflation, or the depletion of a budget.
Furthermore, the verb is often found in literature and journalism to add a dramatic flair to the concept of loss. Instead of simply saying something 'desapareció' (disappeared), using se evaporó suggests a more ethereal and irreversible process. It paints a picture of something that has left no trace behind, much like a gas that cannot be easily recaptured. Understanding this word allows you to appreciate the poetic side of Spanish, where physical laws are frequently borrowed to describe the complexities of human experience and societal changes. Whether you are talking about the weather, a recipe for a sauce reduction, or a missing suspect in a crime novel, this verb provides a specific and evocative way to describe the act of vanishing.
La niebla comenzó a evaporarse en cuanto los primeros rayos del sol tocaron el valle.
- Social Context
- Describes a person leaving a place quickly and quietly, or a feeling like anger or excitement slowly fading away.
Toda la tensión en la sala se evaporó cuando ella soltó una carcajada espontánea.
El agua de la piscina se evaporaba rápidamente debido al intenso calor del verano sevillano.
Using evaporarse correctly requires paying close attention to its pronominal nature. Because it is a reflexive verb, the conjugation must always include the reflexive pronoun that corresponds to the subject. For instance, if you are talking about yourself metaphorically 'disappearing' from a boring situation, you would say 'Me evaporo'. If you are talking about the water in a glass, you would say 'El agua se evapora'. This 'se' is not just an addition; it defines the action as something the subject is doing to itself or a state it is entering. In English, we often use the word 'evaporate' without a reflexive pronoun, but in Spanish, the lack of 'se' changes the meaning to an active, transitive action of turning another substance into vapor.
- Present Tense
- Used for general truths or ongoing actions. Example: 'El alcohol se evapora a una temperatura más baja que el agua.'
When using evaporarse in the past tenses, the choice between the preterite and the imperfect depends on whether the disappearance was a sudden event or a gradual process. Use the preterite ('se evaporó') for a specific moment when something vanished—like a suspect escaping or a specific sum of money being spent. Use the imperfect ('se evaporaba') to describe a continuous state or a gradual process, such as the water in a lake slowly receding over a long, hot summer. This distinction allows the speaker to provide a clear temporal picture of how the 'evaporation' occurred. For example, 'El dinero se evaporó en el casino' implies it was lost in one go, whereas 'El dinero se evaporaba cada mes' suggests a recurring, gradual loss.
Cuando el jefe entró con cara de pocos amigos, mis ganas de pedir un aumento se evaporaron al instante.
Another important aspect of using this verb is its placement in sentences with auxiliary verbs like 'querer', 'poder', or 'ir a'. In these cases, the reflexive pronoun can either be attached to the end of the infinitive or placed before the conjugated verb. Both 'El agua se va a evaporar' and 'El agua va a evaporarse' are grammatically correct and widely used. This flexibility is common in Spanish and allows for different rhythmic choices in speech and writing. When using the imperative (giving a command), the pronoun must be attached to the end: '¡Evapórate!' (literally 'Evaporate yourself!', used colloquially to tell someone to get lost or disappear).
- Subjunctive Mood
- Used for doubts or wishes. Example: 'Espero que mis problemas se evaporen pronto.'
In technical writing, evaporarse is often used in the passive voice or with impersonal 'se' to describe scientific observations. 'Se observa cómo el líquido comienza a evaporarse' (It is observed how the liquid begins to evaporate). This maintains a formal and objective tone. Conversely, in very informal slang, you might hear 'El tipo se evaporó', meaning 'The guy bailed' or 'The guy ghosted'. This range from the highly formal to the very informal makes it a versatile tool for any Spanish speaker. It is also important to note that 'evaporarse' is often followed by 'en' to describe what it turns into (e.g., 'se evapora en el aire') or 'con' to describe the cause (e.g., 'se evapora con el calor').
Si no cierras bien el frasco de perfume, el contenido se evaporará poco a poco.
- Compound Tenses
- Using 'haber' + past participle. Example: 'El agua ya se ha evaporado por completo.'
Mis dudas se habían evaporado después de hablar con el experto.
Al abrir la puerta, el olor a incienso se evaporó de la habitación.
You will encounter the word evaporarse in a surprisingly wide variety of real-world scenarios in Spanish-speaking countries. One of the most common places is in the kitchen. Spanish culinary tradition involves many stews and sauces where 'dejar que el líquido se evapore' (letting the liquid evaporate) is a crucial step to concentrate flavors. If you are watching a Spanish cooking show or reading a recipe for a traditional 'sofrito' or 'reducción de vino', you will certainly see this verb. It is the standard way to describe reducing a sauce by boiling off the excess water or alcohol. Chefs use it precisely to indicate the transition from a watery consistency to a thick, flavorful one.
- In the Kitchen
- Recipes often say 'cocinar a fuego lento hasta que el caldo se evapore' (cook over low heat until the broth evaporates) to thicken a dish.
Another very common context is the financial news and economic discussions. In countries that have experienced high inflation or economic volatility, people often talk about how their 'sueldo' (salary) or 'ahorros' (savings) se evaporan. This paints a vivid picture of money losing its value so quickly that it seems to disappear into the air. If you listen to a podcast about the economy in Argentina or Spain, you might hear an analyst say 'el poder adquisitivo se evaporó debido a la inflación'. This usage is not just technical; it is deeply cultural, reflecting a shared experience of economic fragility where wealth feels as fleeting as vapor.
En el mercado de valores, millones de euros pueden evaporarse en un solo día de pánico.
Weather reports and educational settings are also primary locations for this word. When meteorologists in Spain or Mexico explain the water cycle (el ciclo del agua), evaporarse is the technical term they use. You will hear it in school classrooms and on news segments explaining why reservoirs are low during a drought. 'El agua de los embalses se está evaporando a un ritmo alarmante' (The water in the reservoirs is evaporating at an alarming rate) is a common headline during hot Spanish summers. This makes the word essential for understanding environmental issues and basic science in Spanish.
- In Literature and Film
- Authors use it to describe ghosts, memories, or hopes that fade away, creating a sense of melancholy or mystery.
Finally, you will hear evaporarse in everyday social interactions, often with a touch of humor or frustration. If you are looking for a friend at a crowded festival and they are nowhere to be found, you might tell another friend, '¡Juan se evaporó!'. This implies that Juan vanished so quickly it was as if he turned into gas. Similarly, in the workplace, if a colleague avoids work by disappearing when there's a task to be done, someone might joke that they have a talent for 'evaporarse' at the right moment. This social usage is very common and helps you sound more natural and idiomatic in your Spanish conversations.
Había mucha gente en la fiesta, pero en cuanto empezó la música clásica, la mayoría se evaporó.
- Environmental News
- Used to discuss climate change, the melting of glaciers (indirectly), and the drying of wetlands.
Con la llegada del viento seco, la humedad del suelo se evapora rápidamente.
Toda la alegría que sentía se evaporó cuando recibió la mala noticia.
One of the most frequent errors English speakers make when using evaporarse is forgetting the reflexive pronoun 'se'. In English, the verb 'evaporate' can be used intransitively (the water evaporates) without any extra pronouns. However, in Spanish, omitting the 'se' and saying 'El agua evapora' is grammatically incomplete and sounds like the water is performing the action of evaporating something else. This 'se' is what indicates the change of state within the subject itself. Learners should treat the 'se' as an inseparable part of the verb when describing things that vanish or turn into vapor. Always remember: if the subject is the one disappearing, the reflexive pronoun must be there.
- The Missing 'Se'
- Incorrect: 'El alcohol evapora rápido.' Correct: 'El alcohol se evapora rápido.'
Another common pitfall is confusing evaporarse with similar verbs like 'desaparecer' or 'desvanecerse'. While they all mean 'to disappear', they are not always interchangeable. 'Desaparecer' is the most general term and can be used for anything that is no longer visible. 'Evaporarse' specifically implies a sudden, clean disappearance, often with a sense of 'vanishing into thin air' or changing state. Using 'evaporarse' for something that was stolen or moved manually might sound strange unless you are being intentionally metaphorical. For instance, if you lost your keys, you wouldn't usually say they 'evaporated' unless you want to emphasize that they vanished in a way that seems impossible.
No digas que tu coche se evaporó si lo que quieres decir es que te lo robaron; suena demasiado mágico.
Learners also struggle with the conjugation of the reflexive pronoun in complex sentences. When using 'evaporarse' in the infinitive after another verb, some students forget to change the 'se' to match the subject. For example, if you are talking about yourself, you must say 'Siento que voy a evaporarme' (I feel like I'm going to evaporate/disappear), not 'Siento que voy a evaporarse'. The reflexive pronoun must always agree with the person who is performing the action. This is a general rule for all pronominal verbs in Spanish, but it is particularly important here to maintain clarity and grammatical accuracy.
- Overusing the Metaphor
- While common, using 'evaporarse' for every instance of losing something can make your Spanish sound repetitive. Mix it up with 'esfumarse' or 'perderse'.
Finally, there is a technical mistake regarding the use of 'evaporar' versus 'ebullir'. While 'evaporarse' happens at any temperature on the surface of a liquid, 'hervir' (to boil) is the process of rapid evaporation throughout the liquid at boiling point. In a scientific context, saying 'el agua se evaporó' is correct for a puddle drying up, but if you are talking about a pot on a stove, 'el agua está hirviendo' is more precise. Confusing these can make your descriptions of cooking or science sound slightly 'off' to a native speaker. Pay attention to the speed and the context of the disappearance to choose the most accurate verb.
Es un error decir 'me evaporé' cuando simplemente te fuiste a casa temprano de forma planeada.
- Agreement with Plurals
- Ensure the verb matches the plural subject: 'Las nubes se evaporaron' (not 'se evaporó').
La gasolina se evapora si dejas el depósito abierto, ¡ten cuidado!
Las esperanzas de paz se evaporaron tras la ruptura de las negociaciones.
To enrich your Spanish vocabulary, it is helpful to compare evaporarse with its many synonyms and related terms. Each one carries a slightly different shade of meaning. The most direct synonym for the metaphorical sense of vanishing is esfumarse. While 'evaporarse' suggests a physical change (like liquid to gas), 'esfumarse' comes from 'humos' (smoke), suggesting something that disappears like smoke in the wind. 'Esfumarse' is often more informal and is frequently used to describe people 'vanishing' from a place or a suspect 'disappearing' from a crime scene. If someone leaves a party without anyone noticing, you would more likely say 'se esfumó' than 'se evaporó', though both are understood.
- Evaporarse vs. Esfumarse
- Evaporarse: More scientific or used for money/feelings. Esfumarse: More colloquial, used for people or quick physical exits.
Another close relative is desvanecerse. This verb is best translated as 'to fade' or 'to faint'. It is used for things that disappear gradually or lose their intensity. For example, a sound, a memory, or a physical color 'se desvanece'. It is also the standard word for when a person loses consciousness (faints). While 'evaporarse' implies a complete transformation or disappearance, 'desvanecerse' focuses on the process of becoming weaker and weaker until nothing is left. You would use 'desvanecerse' for a sunset or a dream, whereas 'evaporarse' is better for a puddle or a bank balance.
Su silueta se desvaneció entre la niebla, mientras que el agua del suelo se evaporaba lentamente.
For more technical or dramatic contexts, you might encounter volatilizarse. This word is very similar to 'evaporarse' but is often used in chemistry to describe substances that turn into gas very easily (volatile substances). In a metaphorical sense, 'volatilizarse' is even more extreme than 'evaporarse'. It is often used in news reports about large-scale financial fraud or explosions where something is completely destroyed and scattered. If a huge fortune disappears instantly, a journalist might say 'la fortuna se volatilizó'. It carries a sense of speed and total destruction that 'evaporarse' sometimes lacks.
- Evaporarse vs. Disiparse
- Disiparse: Used for clouds, smells, or doubts spreading out and disappearing. Evaporarse: Focuses on the change from liquid to gas or the total disappearance of value.
Finally, there is disiparse, which means 'to dissipate'. This is the best word to use for things like smoke, clouds, smells, or doubts that spread out until they are no longer concentrated or visible. While 'evaporarse' is about a change of state, 'disiparse' is about scattering. If a crowd of people leaves a plaza, 'la multitud se disipó'. If your fears go away after a reassuring talk, 'tus miedos se disiparon'. Understanding these distinctions will help you choose the exact word to describe how something leaves the scene, making your Spanish more precise and sophisticated.
El humo del incendio se disipó con el viento, pero el agua que usamos para apagarlo se evaporó por el calor.
- Summary of Alternatives
- 1. Esfumarse (People/Mystery) 2. Desvanecerse (Fading/Fainting) 3. Volatilizarse (Chemistry/Finance) 4. Disiparse (Smoke/Doubts).
En cuanto salió el sol, el rocío de la mañana empezó a evaporarse.
Las nubes de tormenta se disiparon rápidamente, permitiendo que el agua en el suelo se evaporara.
How Formal Is It?
Wusstest du?
The word 'vapor' in Latin originally referred to warm exhalations or steam, and it has remained remarkably consistent in meaning for over two thousand years across many European languages.
Aussprachehilfe
- Pronouncing the 'v' like an English 'v' (it should be a soft 'b' sound).
- Forgetting to tap the 'r' sounds.
- Putting the stress on the wrong syllable (e.g., e-VA-po-rar-se).
- Pronouncing the 'e' at the end like an English 'ee' (it should be 'eh').
- Failing to pronounce the 's' clearly in the middle and end.
Schwierigkeitsgrad
Easy to recognize because of the English cognate 'evaporate'.
Requires remembering the reflexive pronoun and correct conjugation.
Pronunciation of the tapped 'r' and placement of 'se' can be tricky.
Clear sound, usually easy to pick out in context.
Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest
Voraussetzungen
Als Nächstes lernen
Fortgeschritten
Wichtige Grammatik
Reflexive Pronoun Placement
Se va a evaporar / Va a evaporarse.
Subjunctive with 'esperar que'
Espero que el agua se evapore.
Imperfect vs Preterite for process vs event
El agua se evaporaba (process) vs Se evaporó (event).
Agreement of reflexive pronouns
Me evaporo, te evaporas, se evapora.
Transitive use without 'se'
El sol evapora el agua.
Beispiele nach Niveau
El agua se evapora con el sol.
The water evaporates with the sun.
Uses 'se' because it is a reflexive action.
El sol evapora el agua del mar.
The sun evaporates the sea water.
Here 'evapora' is transitive (the sun does it to the water).
Mira, el agua se está evaporando.
Look, the water is evaporating.
Present continuous form 'está evaporando'.
El calor hace que el agua se evapore.
The heat makes the water evaporate.
Subjunctive 'evapore' after 'hace que'.
¿Se evapora el agua si hace frío?
Does water evaporate if it is cold?
Question form with reflexive 'se'.
El agua de la lluvia se evapora rápido.
The rain water evaporates fast.
Adverb 'rápido' modifying the verb.
Las nubes se forman cuando el agua se evapora.
Clouds form when water evaporates.
Complex sentence with two reflexive verbs.
Pongo agua en el plato y se evapora.
I put water in the dish and it evaporates.
Simple present tense sequence.
El alcohol del vino se evapora al cocinar.
The alcohol in the wine evaporates when cooking.
Common culinary usage.
Ayer puse perfume y se evaporó pronto.
Yesterday I put on perfume and it evaporated soon.
Preterite tense 'se evaporó'.
Si dejas la botella abierta, el líquido se evaporará.
If you leave the bottle open, the liquid will evaporate.
Future tense 'se evaporará'.
El sudor se evapora de nuestra piel.
Sweat evaporates from our skin.
Preposition 'de' indicating origin.
La niebla se evaporaba cuando salió el sol.
The fog was evaporating when the sun came out.
Imperfect tense 'se evaporaba' for ongoing action.
Tienes que dejar que el caldo se evapore un poco.
You have to let the broth evaporate a bit.
Infinitive 'evaporarse' after 'dejar que'.
El agua se ha evaporado por completo.
The water has completely evaporated.
Present perfect 'se ha evaporado'.
La gasolina se evapora con mucha facilidad.
Gasoline evaporates very easily.
Noun phrase 'con mucha facilidad'.
Mi sueldo se evapora en solo una semana.
My salary evaporates in just one week.
Metaphorical use for money.
Sus esperanzas de ganar se evaporaron ayer.
His hopes of winning evaporated yesterday.
Metaphorical use for abstract concepts.
El sospechoso se evaporó antes de que llegara la policía.
The suspect vanished before the police arrived.
Colloquial use for a person disappearing.
Parece que mis llaves se han evaporado, no las encuentro.
It seems my keys have evaporated; I can't find them.
Hyperbolic use for lost objects.
La paciencia del profesor se evaporó rápidamente.
The teacher's patience evaporated quickly.
Metaphorical use for emotions.
Toda la alegría se evaporó con la mala noticia.
All the joy evaporated with the bad news.
Preposition 'con' indicating the cause.
El dinero público se evaporó en proyectos inútiles.
Public money evaporated in useless projects.
Common usage in political/economic context.
Si no nos damos prisa, la oportunidad se evaporará.
If we don't hurry, the opportunity will evaporate.
Future tense for a warning.
Los ahorros de toda una vida pueden evaporarse en un día.
A lifetime's savings can evaporate in one day.
Modal verb 'pueden' followed by infinitive.
La tensión en la reunión se evaporó tras el chiste.
The tension in the meeting evaporated after the joke.
Describing a change in atmosphere.
El apoyo al gobierno se está evaporando por la crisis.
Support for the government is evaporating due to the crisis.
Present continuous for a gradual trend.
Es increíble cómo se evapora el tiempo cuando te diviertes.
It's incredible how time evaporates when you're having fun.
Metaphorical use for time.
La humedad del suelo se evapora bajo el sol abrasador.
Soil moisture evaporates under the scorching sun.
More formal/descriptive vocabulary ('abrasador').
No dejes que tus sueños se evaporen por el miedo.
Don't let your dreams evaporate because of fear.
Negative imperative with 'dejar que' + subjunctive.
El solvente se evapora sin dejar ningún residuo.
The solvent evaporates without leaving any residue.
Technical/Instructional context.
Toda la nieve se evaporó antes de que pudiéramos esquiar.
All the snow evaporated before we could ski.
Preterite to show a completed, disappointing event.
La esencia del poema parece evaporarse al traducirlo.
The essence of the poem seems to evaporate when translating it.
Abstract literary context.
Su prestigio se evaporó tras el escándalo de corrupción.
His prestige evaporated following the corruption scandal.
Formal use for reputation/prestige.
Las dudas iniciales se evaporaron ante la evidencia.
The initial doubts evaporated in the face of the evidence.
Formal usage in an argumentative context.
El aroma del café recién hecho se evaporaba por la ventana.
The aroma of freshly made coffee was evaporating through the window.
Sensory description using the imperfect.
Es vital evitar que el capital se evapore en paraísos fiscales.
It is vital to prevent capital from evaporating in tax havens.
Complex formal sentence with 'evitar que'.
La bruma matinal se evaporó, revelando un paisaje sublime.
The morning mist evaporated, revealing a sublime landscape.
High-level descriptive vocabulary ('bruma', 'sublime').
Sus palabras se evaporaron en el aire sin que nadie las oyera.
His words evaporated in the air without anyone hearing them.
Poetic use for ignored speech.
La delgada línea entre la realidad y el sueño se evaporó.
The thin line between reality and dream evaporated.
Philosophical/Literary usage.
La soberanía nacional no debe evaporarse ante la globalización.
National sovereignty must not evaporate in the face of globalization.
Political/Philosophical discourse.
El agua en estado crítico puede evaporarse de forma instantánea.
Water in a critical state can evaporate instantaneously.
Technical scientific context.
Toda pretensión de objetividad se evaporó durante el juicio.
Any pretense of objectivity evaporated during the trial.
Formal, legalistic/journalistic tone.
Aquel imperio milenario se evaporó dejando apenas vestigios.
That thousand-year-old empire evaporated leaving barely any remains.
Historical/Poetic context.
La inversión se evaporó debido a la volatilidad del mercado.
The investment evaporated due to market volatility.
High-level financial terminology.
La mística del lugar se evaporó con la llegada del turismo masivo.
The mystique of the place evaporated with the arrival of mass tourism.
Sociological/Cultural observation.
Esas viejas rencillas se evaporaron con el paso de los años.
Those old feuds evaporated with the passing of the years.
Using 'evaporarse' for the resolution of conflict.
La frontera entre lo público y lo privado se ha evaporado en internet.
The border between public and private has evaporated on the internet.
Contemporary sociological commentary.
Häufige Kollokationen
Häufige Phrasen
— It disappeared very quickly and without leaving anything behind, like smoke.
Su fortuna se evaporó como el humo.
— A very common idiom meaning to disappear suddenly, often to avoid something.
En cuanto vio el trabajo, se hizo humo.
— To vanish into thin air, similar to 'evaporarse'.
El mago hizo que la carta desapareciera en el aire.
— To leave no trace at all after disappearing.
Se fue y no dejó ni rastro, se evaporó.
— Colloquial way to say money is spent very fast, similar to 'evaporarse'.
El dinero vuela en esta ciudad.
— To fade or vanish from sight.
El barco se esfumó de la vista en el horizonte.
— When something planned or hoped for results in nothing.
El proyecto se quedó en nada, se evaporó.
— To be wasted or lost completely, often used for money.
Toda la inversión se fue por el desagüe.
— Used for time that goes by very fast.
Las vacaciones pasaron como un suspiro, se evaporaron.
Wird oft verwechselt mit
Desaparecer is general; evaporarse implies turning into vapor or vanishing into thin air.
Desvanecerse is for fading or fainting; evaporarse is for a change of state or sudden disappearance.
Secarse means to dry up; evaporarse is the process that causes something to dry up.
Redewendungen & Ausdrücke
— To disappear as if by magic, used when something vanishes inexplicably.
Mis llaves se evaporaron como por arte de magia.
Informal— To dissolve or disappear completely, especially money or efforts.
El presupuesto se hizo sal y agua en un mes.
Colloquial (Latin America)— To disappear as fast as a breath or a sigh.
El corredor se esfumó como una exhalación.
Literary— Not even a shadow remains; complete disappearance.
De su antiguo poder no queda ni la sombra, se evaporó.
Neutral— To be swallowed by the earth; to disappear without a trace.
Parece que se lo tragó la tierra, se evaporó del mapa.
Colloquial— To be uncertain or likely to vanish.
Nuestros planes aún están en el aire.
Neutral— To go to ruin or disappear as a possibility.
Todo el plan se fue al traste cuando él renunció.
Informal— To disappear from the map; to go somewhere unknown.
Después del divorcio, él desapareció del mapa.
Colloquial— To fall on deaf ears or be wasted (of advice or efforts).
Mis advertencias cayeron en saco roto y su interés se evaporó.
NeutralLeicht verwechselbar
Transitive vs Reflexive.
Evaporar is to make something else evaporate. Evaporarse is for the subject itself turning into vapor.
El sol evapora el agua (transitive) vs El agua se evapora (reflexive).
Both involve vapor.
Vaporizar often implies using a machine or intentional action to create a mist.
Vaporizar el perfume en el aire.
Both mean to vanish.
Esfumarse is more colloquial and often used for people or smoke.
El ladrón se esfumó.
Both mean to go away.
Disiparse is for things that scatter, like clouds or doubts.
Las nubes se disiparon.
Both involve heat and water.
Hervir is the process of water reaching 100 degrees; evaporarse is the resulting change of state.
El agua está hirviendo y se está evaporando.
Satzmuster
El [sustantivo] se evapora.
El agua se evapora.
El [sustantivo] se evaporó ayer.
La lluvia se evaporó ayer.
Mi [sustantivo abstracto] se evapora rápido.
Mi dinero se evapora rápido.
No dejes que [sustantivo] se evapore.
No dejes que tu paciencia se evapore.
Es probable que [sustantivo] se haya evaporado.
Es probable que su interés se haya evaporado.
Toda [sustantivo] se evaporó ante [sustantivo].
Toda duda se evaporó ante la verdad.
[Persona] se evaporó de [lugar].
Pedro se evaporó de la oficina.
Dejar que se evapore el [líquido].
Dejar que se evapore el alcohol.
Wortfamilie
Substantive
Verben
Adjektive
Verwandt
So verwendest du es
Common in both spoken and written Spanish.
-
El agua evapora.
→
El agua se evapora.
Missing the reflexive pronoun 'se' makes the sentence grammatically incomplete.
-
Me evaporé de la fiesta (meaning I planned to leave).
→
Me fui de la fiesta.
'Evaporarse' implies a sudden or mysterious disappearance, not just leaving.
-
El sol se evapora el agua.
→
El sol evapora el agua.
When there is an external agent (the sun), the verb is transitive and does not take 'se'.
-
Mis llaves se evaporaron (for a simple loss).
→
He perdido mis llaves.
Using 'evaporarse' for lost objects is fine metaphorically, but 'perder' is more accurate for daily life.
-
Siento que voy a evaporarse.
→
Siento que voy a evaporarme.
The reflexive pronoun must match the subject ('yo' matches 'me').
Tipps
Always use the pronoun
Remember to match the reflexive pronoun with the subject: me evaporo, te evaporas, se evapora, etc. This is essential for the meaning 'to vanish'.
Use it for money
If you want to sound like a native, use 'evaporarse' to talk about how fast your money goes. It's a very common and natural metaphor.
Soft 'v' sound
Pronounce the 'v' in 'evaporarse' like a soft 'b'. Do not bite your lower lip as you would for an English 'v'.
Sauce reduction
When a recipe says 'reducir', it often implies 'dejar que el líquido se evapore'. Use this verb when explaining how to cook sauces.
Ghosting
You can use 'se evaporó' to describe someone who stopped responding to messages or disappeared from a social circle.
Literary flair
Use 'evaporarse' to describe fog, mist, or memories in your stories to give them a more poetic and atmospheric feel.
Listen for 'se'
In fast speech, the 'se' can blend with the end of the previous word. Pay close attention to the context to hear it.
Technical accuracy
Use 'evaporarse' for surface change and 'hervir' for the whole liquid reaching the boiling point. This shows advanced level precision.
Suddenness
Choose 'evaporarse' when you want to emphasize that something disappeared quickly and left no trace behind.
Weather talk
It's a perfect word for discussing droughts or the hot climate in places like Spain or Mexico.
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Think of the word 'VAPOR' hidden inside e-VAPOR-arse. When something 'evaporates', it turns into 'vapor' and goes 'arse' (away/disappears).
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine a hot puddle of water on a summer day. See the steam rising and the puddle getting smaller until it is gone. That is 'evaporarse'.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Try to use 'evaporarse' three times today: once for something physical (like water), once for money, and once for a feeling.
Wortherkunft
From the Latin verb 'evaporare', which is composed of the prefix 'ex-' (out) and 'vaporare' (to emit steam/vapor).
Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: To disperse in the form of vapor or steam.
Romance (Latin origin)Kultureller Kontext
No specific sensitivities, but be careful using it for a person who has actually gone missing (desaparecido) as it might sound too casual or magical for a serious situation.
Similar to the English 'to vanish into thin air', but 'evaporarse' is used more frequently in everyday situations like cooking or talking about budgets.
Im Alltag üben
Kontexte aus dem Alltag
Cooking
- Dejar que el vino se evapore
- Esperar a que el caldo se evapore
- Evaporar el exceso de agua
- Cocinar hasta que se evapore el líquido
Weather
- El rocío se evapora
- La lluvia se evapora rápido
- El sol evapora el agua
- Evaporación de los embalses
Finance
- Los ahorros se evaporaron
- El presupuesto se evapora
- Las ganancias se evaporan
- El valor se evaporó
Emotions
- Mi paciencia se evapora
- La alegría se evaporó
- Las dudas se evaporan
- El miedo se evaporó
Social
- Se evaporó de la fiesta
- El invitado se evaporó
- Se evaporó sin decir adiós
- Parece que se evaporó
Gesprächseinstiege
"¿Alguna vez has sentido que tu dinero se evapora nada más cobrar?"
"¿Qué haces cuando ves que la paciencia se te está evaporando?"
"¿Te gusta esperar a que se evapore el alcohol cuando cocinas con vino?"
"¿Has visto alguna vez cómo se evapora la niebla en la montaña?"
"¿Qué harías si un amigo se evaporara de repente en medio de una fiesta?"
Tagebuch-Impulse
Describe un momento en el que tus esperanzas se evaporaron y cómo te sentiste.
Escribe sobre un lugar que visitaste donde la niebla se evaporaba al amanecer.
Reflexiona sobre cómo el tiempo parece evaporarse cuando estás haciendo algo que amas.
Imagina que tienes un superpoder para evaporarte y aparecer en otro lugar. ¿A dónde irías?
Escribe una receta ficticia donde el ingrediente principal sea algo que se evapora.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenSí, cuando quieres decir que algo se está convirtiendo en vapor o desapareciendo por sí mismo. Sin el 'se', el verbo es transitivo y significa que el sujeto está evaporando otra cosa, lo cual es mucho menos común en el habla cotidiana.
Sí, se usa de forma figurada para decir que alguien se ha ido de un lugar muy rápido o sin avisar. Por ejemplo: 'En cuanto terminó la clase, el profesor se evaporó'. Es una forma expresiva y un poco informal de hablar.
'Evaporarse' suena un poco más técnico o relacionado con el agua y el dinero. 'Esfumarse' es más coloquial y se asocia con el humo. Ambos se pueden usar para desapariciones repentinas, pero 'esfumarse' es muy común para personas.
Se dice 'leche evaporada'. En este caso, usamos el participio del verbo como un adjetivo para describir el tipo de leche que ha pasado por ese proceso.
¡Claro! Es muy común decir que el amor, el miedo o la paciencia 'se evaporan'. Indica que el sentimiento desapareció por completo y quizás de forma rápida. Por ejemplo: 'Mi miedo se evaporó cuando lo vi sonreír'.
No, es incorrecto. Debes decir 'el sol evapora el agua' (sin el primer 'se') porque el sol es el agente que realiza la acción sobre el agua. El agua es la que 'se evapora'.
En un sentido físico, el antónimo es 'condensarse' (de gas a líquido). En un sentido general de aparecer, el antónimo sería 'aparecer' o 'materializarse'.
Para una acción puntual, usa el pretérito: 'se evaporó'. Para algo que estaba ocurriendo o era habitual, usa el imperfecto: 'se evaporaba'. Ejemplo: 'El agua se evaporó rápidamente al sol'.
Muchísimo. Se usa para describir la pérdida rápida de valor o dinero. 'Los ahorros se evaporaron con la inflación' es una frase que escucharás a menudo en noticias económicas.
Sí, pero de forma exagerada. Si no encuentras tus llaves, puedes decir 'mis llaves se han evaporado' para enfatizar que han desaparecido de forma misteriosa, aunque sepas que no se han convertido en gas.
Teste dich selbst 200 Fragen
Write a sentence about water and the sun using 'evaporarse'.
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Explain what happens if you leave a bottle of perfume open.
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Use 'evaporarse' to describe your bank account after a holiday.
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Describe a person who left a party suddenly using 'evaporarse'.
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Write a sentence about how your patience disappears in traffic.
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Write a short instruction for a recipe using the verb 'evaporarse'.
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Use 'evaporarse' to describe the loss of a person's reputation.
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Describe the morning mist in a valley using the imperfect tense.
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Describe what happens to a puddle after it rains.
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Write a sentence about cooking with wine.
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Describe a lost object using 'evaporarse' hyperbolically.
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Write a warning about leaving gasoline in an open container.
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Discuss the evaporation of cultural values in modern times.
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Write a poetic sentence about an empire vanishing.
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How do you feel when time 'evaporates'?
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Write a sentence using the future tense of 'evaporarse'.
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Use the subjunctive mood with 'evaporarse'.
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Describe a scientific experiment involving evaporation.
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Tell a 3-sentence story about a thief who 'evaporated'.
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Translate: 'The water evaporates' into Spanish.
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Pronuncia: 'El agua se evapora'.
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Explica en español qué pasa con el agua en una olla caliente.
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¿Qué pasa con tu dinero a final de mes? Usa 'evaporarse'.
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Cuenta una historia corta sobre alguien que 'se evaporó'.
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¿Cuándo sientes que el tiempo se evapora? Explica por qué.
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Da un consejo sobre cómo evitar que la paciencia se evapore.
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Habla sobre el impacto de la inflación usando el verbo 'evaporarse'.
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Describe un paisaje con niebla usando vocabulario avanzado.
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Pronuncia: 'Se evapora'.
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Pronuncia: 'El alcohol se evaporó'.
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Pronuncia: 'Mis ahorros se evaporaron'.
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Pronuncia: 'Espero que se evapore'.
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Pronuncia: 'La esencia se evapora al traducir'.
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Pronuncia: 'La mística del lugar se evaporó'.
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¿Qué haces si tus llaves se evaporan?
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¿Te gusta el olor a perfume cuando se evapora?
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¿Por qué crees que el apoyo político se evapora?
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Compara 'evaporarse' con 'esfumarse'.
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Usa 'evaporarse' en una frase sobre el verano.
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¿El sol evapora el agua? Responde en español.
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Escucha y escribe: 'El agua se evapora'.
Escucha y escribe: 'El alcohol se evaporó pronto'.
Escucha y escribe: 'Mi sueldo se evapora cada mes'.
Escucha y escribe: 'No dejes que el agua se evapore por completo'.
Escucha y escribe: 'Toda duda se evaporó ante la cruda realidad'.
¿Qué palabra escuchas? (evapora / congela)
¿Qué palabra escuchas? (evaporó / evaporará)
¿Qué palabra escuchas? (se evaporó / se esfumó)
¿Qué palabra escuchas? (evaporarse / evaporar)
¿Qué palabra escuchas? (volatilizó / evaporó)
Escucha: 'El sol evapora el mar'. ¿Quién es el sujeto?
Escucha: 'Juan se evaporó'. ¿Qué hizo Juan?
Escucha: 'La paciencia se evapora'. ¿Es algo físico o mental?
Escucha: 'El aroma se evaporaba'. ¿En qué tiempo está el verbo?
Escucha: 'Agua'. ¿Qué verbo rima con esto? (evapora / toma)
/ 200 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
The word 'evaporarse' is your go-to verb for anything that disappears as if by magic or natural process. Whether you are describing science, cooking, or your bank account after a shopping spree, remember to always use the reflexive pronoun. Example: 'El agua se evaporó' (The water evaporated).
- Evaporarse is a reflexive verb meaning to turn from liquid into gas, like water boiling or drying in the sun.
- It is widely used metaphorically in Spanish to describe money, feelings, or people disappearing suddenly and completely.
- The reflexive pronoun 'se' (me, te, se, nos, os, se) is essential for the verb to mean 'to vanish' or 'to change state'.
- Common contexts include cooking (reducing sauces), finance (losing money), and social situations (leaving a party unnoticed).
Always use the pronoun
Remember to match the reflexive pronoun with the subject: me evaporo, te evaporas, se evapora, etc. This is essential for the meaning 'to vanish'.
Use it for money
If you want to sound like a native, use 'evaporarse' to talk about how fast your money goes. It's a very common and natural metaphor.
Soft 'v' sound
Pronounce the 'v' in 'evaporarse' like a soft 'b'. Do not bite your lower lip as you would for an English 'v'.
Sauce reduction
When a recipe says 'reducir', it often implies 'dejar que el líquido se evapore'. Use this verb when explaining how to cook sauces.
Beispiel
El agua de la piscina empezó a evaporarse con el calor intenso.
Verwandte Inhalte
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a través
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abeja
A1Bee; a stinging winged insect that produces honey.
abismo
B1Ein tiefer Abgrund trennt die beiden Berge.
abundantemente
B2Abundantemente bedeutet in großer Menge oder in hohem Maße. Zum Beispiel: 'Die Ernte fiel reichlich aus.' (The harvest was abundant.)
acampar
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acaso
B1Vielleicht; etwa.
acequia
B1Eine Acequia ist ein traditioneller Bewässerungskanal, der besonders in trockenen Regionen Spaniens vorkommt.
acuático
B1Auf Wasser bezogen; im oder am Wasser lebend.
adaptación
B1Anpassung ist der Prozess der Einstellung auf neue Bedingungen.
adaptarse
B1Es braucht Zeit, sich an ein neues Klima anzupassen.