persiguiendo mariposas
/peɾsiɡjendo maɾiposas/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'chasing butterflies' is translated into Spanish as persiguiendo mariposas.
What does it mean word for word?
persiguiendo is the gerund form of the verb perseguir, which means 'to chase' or 'to pursue'. mariposas is the plural form of mariposa, meaning 'butterfly'.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you want to use the infinitive form 'to chase butterflies' instead of the continuous 'chasing butterflies', you use perseguir mariposas.
How do you pronounce it?
/peɾsiɡjendo maɾiposas/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, mariposa is not just a butterfly but is also used as a slang term for a 'gay man' in several countries. Using persiguiendo mariposas in certain social contexts might be interpreted as a double entendre.
- While perseguir means 'to chase', it can also mean 'to haunt' or 'to plague' when used with a memory or a thought. To be perseguido by a memory is a common way to describe trauma.
- In some Latin American dialects, a mariposa can refer to a specific type of clothing fastener or a kind of nut used in hardware. In a workshop, perseguir mariposas could literally mean looking for missing wing nuts.
Examples in context
- Ayer, fuimos al parque y pasamos la tarde persiguiendo mariposas. ¡Fue muy divertido!Yesterday, we went to the park and spent the afternoon chasing butterflies. It was so much fun!
- Los niños están persiguiendo mariposas en el jardín.The children are chasing butterflies in the garden.
- Me imagino a un niño persiguiendo mariposas en el campo.I imagine a child chasing butterflies in the field.
- Ella se divierte persiguiendo mariposas cerca del río.She has fun chasing butterflies near the river.
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are watching children play in a park.
- Javier¿Qué hacen esos niños allí?What are those children doing over there?
- LucíaParece que están persiguiendo mariposas.It looks like they are chasing butterflies.
- JavierQué escena tan bonita y tranquila.What a beautiful and peaceful scene.
- LucíaSí, me recuerda a mi infancia.Yes, it reminds me of my childhood.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
