Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| gotear | /ɡoteˈaɾ/ |
| pintear | /pinteˈaɾ/ |
The primary way to express the action of falling one drop at a time is with the verb gotear. Related terms include the noun goteo, which refers to a slow and steady flow of liquid, often in technical or medical contexts and the noun suero, which refers to an apparatus that slowly releases liquid. In a completely different context, the noun aburro can be used to describe an ineffectual or uninteresting person.
What does it mean word for word?
The verb gotear is derived from the noun gota, which means 'drop'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the word gotera is commonly used to refer to a leak or a seep and can be used in contexts related to a drip.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun goteo functions as a verbal noun describing the continuous action or the phenomenon of dripping.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡoteˈaɾ/
Did you know?
- The word gota was historically used in Spanish to refer to 'gout', the painful joint inflammation, because the disease was thought to be caused by 'drops' of acid in the blood.
- The noun goteo can be used metaphorically in business or politics to describe a slow, continuous arrival of people or resources.
- The suffix -ear in gotear is a common way in Spanish to turn a noun into a verb that expresses an action or a continuous state.
Examples in context
- El goteo del suero es crucial para la recuperación del pacienteThe drip of the saline solution is crucial for the patient's recovery
- El aire acondicionado tiene una fuga y está goteando gota a gotaThe air conditioner has a leak and is dripping drop by drop
- Cada vez que llueve, hay una gotera en el techo de la cocinaEvery time it rains, there's a drip in the kitchen ceiling
- El grifo no deja de gotear.The faucet won't stop dripping.
- ¿Puedes arreglar esto que empieza a gotear?Can you fix this that is starting to drip?
- El techo empezó a gotear de repente.The ceiling suddenly started to drip.
Example conversation
In the kitchen after a heavy rain.
- JavierElena, el techo de la cocina empieza a gotear.Elena, the kitchen ceiling is starting to drip.
- Elena¡Qué horror! Voy a buscar un cubo.How awful! I'm going to look for a bucket.
- JavierTen cuidado, el agua puede gotear sobre el suelo.Be careful, the water might drip onto the floor.
- ElenaNo te preocupes, Javier, ya voy.Don't worry, Javier, I'm coming now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “drip” translations and entries gotear, pintear, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
