secarse
/sekaɾse/from spelling rules
The English phrase "dry off" is translated into Spanish as secarse.
Meaning: to make dry (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The verb is composed of secar (to dry) and the reflexive pronoun se (oneself), literally meaning "to dry oneself".
Which one should you use?
Use the non-reflexive form secar when you are drying an object. Use the reflexive form secarse when a person is drying themselves.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, it is common to use the phrase secarse con una toalla to specifically mean "dry off with a towel".
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the third person singular present tense, the reflexive pronoun se precedes the conjugated verb seca, resulting in se seca. In the preterite past tense, the form is se secó.
How do you pronounce it?
/sekaɾse/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, there is a traditional belief that not drying your hair properly after washing it can lead to a cold or 'air' entering the body.
- In Spanish, the root of secarse is used to create the word secadero, which is not just a place to dry things but specifically a traditional structure used for curing hams and sausages.
- In certain Latin American dialects, if someone is being 'dry' in their conversation, you might use a variation of the root to describe them as seco, meaning they lack wit or emotion.
Examples in context
- Los patos aletearon al sol para secarse.The ducks flapped their wings in the sun to dry off.This sentence shows how animals might use the verb secarse to dry themselves in the sun.Tatoeba #5902387 by arh, translation #10612095 by sangelo
- Por favor, necesito una toalla para secarmePlease, I need a towel to dry off
- Voy a secarme antes de vestirmeI'm going to dry off before getting dressed
- Tienes que secarte con la toalla.You have to dry yourself off with the towel.
- Es difícil secarse con este viento.It is hard to dry off with this wind.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry secarse, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
