rodéalo
/rodealo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "circle it" is translated into Spanish as rodéalo.
You use this phrase when giving a command to draw a circle around something to mark or highlight it. For a more descriptive or general way to say "to circle it," you can use the infinitive phrase encerrarlo en un círculo.
What does it mean word for word?
The word rodéalo is composed of the imperative verb rodear, which means to surround or circle and the object pronoun lo, which means it.
Which one should you use?
If the object being circled is a feminine noun, the pronoun changes from 'lo' to 'la' to become rodéala.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the word rodéalo, the accent mark on the e is required in the imperative form to maintain the correct stress on the third-to-last syllable.
How do you pronounce it?
/rodealo/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, an instructor might not tell a student to 'circle' an answer using rodéalo, but might instead use encerrar, which literally means 'to enclose' or 'to lock up'.
- The root rod- in rodéalo is related to the English word 'rotate'. Both words trace back to the Latin rota, meaning 'wheel'.
- The verb rodear is used in Spanish to describe the military act of surrounding a city during a siege.
Examples in context
- Si ves el error, rodéalo.If you see the error, circle it.
- Es un objeto importante, rodéalo con un marcador.It is an important object, circle it with a marker.
- No lo taches, solo rodéalo.Don't cross it out, just circle it.
Example conversation
Elena is helping Javier with a worksheet.
- ElenaMira este párrafo, Javier.Look at this paragraph, Javier.
- Javier¿Qué debo hacer ahora?What should I do now?
- ElenaEncuentra el verbo y rodéalo.Find the verb and circle it.
- JavierVale, ya está hecho.Okay, it's done.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
