Sudar is the standard Spanish verb for sweating, used for both physical heat and intense effort.
Word in 30 Seconds
- To excrete moisture through the skin due to heat or exercise.
- Commonly used to describe physical exertion or high temperatures.
- Can also metaphorically describe working very hard.
Overview
'Sudar' es un verbo regular de primera conjugación que describe la expulsión de sudor. Es una palabra fundamental en el español cotidiano, esencial para describir condiciones climáticas, salud y niveles de actividad física. 2) Usage Patterns: Se utiliza principalmente como verbo intransitivo. A menudo se combina con adverbios de modo para indicar la intensidad, como 'sudar mucho' o 'sudar frío'. También puede usarse de forma figurada para indicar una situación de tensión o esfuerzo extremo. 3) Common Contexts: Es muy común escucharlo en contextos deportivos ('he sudado mucho en el gimnasio'), en situaciones de estrés ('el examen me hizo sudar') o simplemente al hablar del clima ('¡Qué calor, estoy sudando!'). 4) Similar Words comparison: A diferencia de 'transpirar', que tiene un registro ligeramente más médico o formal, 'sudar' es la palabra estándar y más común en todos los niveles de habla. Mientras que 'sudar' se siente directo y físico, 'transpirar' puede sonar un poco más técnico o eufemístico, siendo preferido en contextos de cosmética o salud profesional.
Examples
Hoy hace mucho calor y estoy sudando.
everydayIt is very hot today and I am sweating.
El paciente presenta una sudoración excesiva.
formalThe patient presents excessive sweating.
¡He sudado la gota gorda para terminar este proyecto!
informalI've sweated buckets to finish this project!
El ejercicio físico intenso provoca que el cuerpo sude para regular la temperatura.
academicIntense physical exercise causes the body to sweat to regulate temperature.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
sudar la camiseta
to give it your all
me hace sudar
it makes me sweat
estoy sudando
I am sweating
Often Confused With
Transpirar is a more formal or clinical synonym for sudar. It is often used in medical or professional settings.
Sed means 'thirst'. Learners sometimes confuse the sound, but one is a verb (sweat) and the other is a noun (thirst).
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
Sudar is a neutral verb used in all registers. It is highly productive in idiomatic expressions regarding effort. No special formality is required to use it in daily conversation.
Common Mistakes
Beginners sometimes try to use 'sudor' as a verb. Remember that 'sudor' is the noun (sweat) and 'sudar' is the action (to sweat). Also, ensure correct conjugation for the subject.
Tips
Use with intensity adverbs
Combine 'sudar' with words like 'mucho', 'bastante' or 'chorros' to emphasize how much you are sweating. It makes your description more vivid.
Don't confuse with 'sudario'
Avoid mixing up 'sudar' with 'sudario', which means a burial shroud. They share a root but have completely different meanings.
Cultural nuance of sweating
In many Spanish-speaking cultures, mentioning that you are sweating is a common way to initiate small talk about the weather. It is a very natural and acceptable topic.
Word Origin
Derived from the Latin 'sudare', which carries the same meaning. It has remained linguistically stable throughout the evolution of the Spanish language.
Cultural Context
Sweating is seen as a natural consequence of hard work in Hispanic culture. The idiom 'sudar la gota gorda' is a very common way to express that someone has put significant effort into a task.
Memory Tip
Think of the word 'sudar' as a 'sudden' release of water from your skin when you are hot. It sounds slightly like 'suds' (soap bubbles), which also involve water.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsNo, es una palabra de registro neutro y cotidiano. Es la forma más común de expresar esta acción en cualquier situación.
El sustantivo correspondiente es 'el sudor'. Por ejemplo: 'Tengo mucho sudor en la frente'.
Sí, existe la expresión 'sudar frío', que se utiliza para describir una reacción física ante un susto, miedo o un problema de salud.
Son sinónimos, pero 'transpirar' es un término que suena más técnico o formal. En el habla diaria, la gran mayoría de los hispanohablantes prefieren usar 'sudar'.
Test Yourself
Después de correr diez kilómetros, yo ___ mucho.
Se requiere la primera persona del presente indicativo 'sudo' para concordar con el sujeto 'yo'.
¿Qué frase es gramaticalmente correcta?
El verbo debe estar conjugado en tercera persona singular para el sujeto 'él'.
el / hace / calor / sudar / mucho / me
La estructura correcta sigue el orden: sujeto + verbo principal + objeto + infinitivo.
Score: /3
Summary
Sudar is the standard Spanish verb for sweating, used for both physical heat and intense effort.
- To excrete moisture through the skin due to heat or exercise.
- Commonly used to describe physical exertion or high temperatures.
- Can also metaphorically describe working very hard.
Use with intensity adverbs
Combine 'sudar' with words like 'mucho', 'bastante' or 'chorros' to emphasize how much you are sweating. It makes your description more vivid.
Don't confuse with 'sudario'
Avoid mixing up 'sudar' with 'sudario', which means a burial shroud. They share a root but have completely different meanings.
Cultural nuance of sweating
In many Spanish-speaking cultures, mentioning that you are sweating is a common way to initiate small talk about the weather. It is a very natural and acceptable topic.
Examples
4 of 4Hoy hace mucho calor y estoy sudando.
It is very hot today and I am sweating.
El paciente presenta una sudoración excesiva.
The patient presents excessive sweating.
¡He sudado la gota gorda para terminar este proyecto!
I've sweated buckets to finish this project!
El ejercicio físico intenso provoca que el cuerpo sude para regular la temperatura.
Intense physical exercise causes the body to sweat to regulate temperature.
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