incendiarse
/inθendjaɾse/from spelling rules
The English phrase catch on fire is translated into Spanish as incendiarse.
incendiarse is used to describe an object catching on fire or igniting. An alternative common phrase to describe the act of catching fire or starting a fire is prender fuego.
Which one should you use?
While incendiarse specifically means to catch fire or ignite, the term quemarse is a more general term meaning to burn or be damaged by fire.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb incendiarse is an intransitive pronominal verb. This means it is used with a reflexive pronoun (se) to indicate the subject is undergoing the action of igniting. When describing an object catching on fire in the past tense, you use the reflexive pronoun se with the verb, such as in se incendió.
How do you pronounce it?
/inθendjaɾse/
Did you know?
- The verb prender in prender fuego also means 'to turn on' a light or 'to arrest' a person, depending on the context.
- The Spanish word incendio shares a root with the English word 'incendiary', but in Spanish, it is the standard, everyday word for any fire that has broken out.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, if you say a person se incendió, it sounds like they physically caught fire like a building rather than just being very angry.
Examples in context
- El bosque se puede incendiarse con este calor.The forest can catch on fire with this heat.
- Es peligroso si la cortina llega a incendiarse.It is dangerous if the curtain catches on fire.
Example conversation
Elena and Mateo are in the kitchen during a cooking accident.
- Elena¡Mateo, quita la sartén antes de que se logre incendiarse!Mateo, move the pan before it catches on fire!
- MateoLo siento, Elena, el aceite estaba demasiado caliente.I'm sorry, Elena, the oil was too hot.
- ElenaCasi se llega a incendiarse toda la cocina.The whole kitchen almost caught on fire.
- MateoTienes razón, voy a tener más cuidado ahora.You're right, I'm going to be more careful now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
