cortar el césped
/koɾtaɾ el θesped/from spelling rules
To mow is to say cortar el césped in Spanish.
The phrase cortar el césped is used specifically to refer to the maintenance of a lawn rather than the general act of cutting vegetation.
Meaning: to cut down (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb cortar (to cut) and the noun phrase el césped (the grass/lawn).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In many parts of Latin America, cortar el pasto is more common than cortar el césped.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/koɾtaɾ el θesped/
Did you know?
- The word césped is derived from the Latin caespes, which referred to sod pieces used by ancient Romans to mark boundaries.
- While césped refers to a manicured lawn, the word pasto is often used because it can also refer to any grassy forage or pasture.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, using cortar el césped instead of cortar el pasto can make a speaker sound like a textbook rather than a local.
Examples in context
- Tengo que cortar el césped todas las semanas.I need to mow the lawn every week.This sentence shows how to express a weekly chore using cortar el césped.Tatoeba #8677603 by arh, translation #9189321 by DJ_Saidez
- Aprovechemos las vacaciones para cortar el césped.Let's take advantage of the vacation to mow the lawn.This sentence uses cortar el césped to suggest a way to spend vacation time.Tatoeba #1946207 by teskmon, translation #19785 by Ignoto
- «¿Vas a cortar el césped hoy, Tom?» «¿No puedo hacerlo mañana? Es que hoy no me apetece.»"Are you going to mow the lawn today, Tom?" "Can't I do it tomorrow? I don't feel like doing it today."This example shows a conversational way to use cortar el césped when discussing daily tasks and preferences.Tatoeba #10041718 by Shishir, translation #10042213 by DJ_Saidez
- Mi abuelo corta el césped cada domingo.My grandfather mows the lawn every Sunday.
- Voy a cortar el pasto este fin de semana.I'm going to mow the lawn this weekend.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are discussing their weekend chores at home.
- JavierLucía, ¿podrías cortar el césped hoy?Lucía, could you mow the lawn today?
- LucíaNo puedo, Javier, tengo mucho trabajo.I can't, Javier, I have a lot of work.
- JavierEstá bien, yo cortaré el césped entonces.That's fine, I will mow the lawn then.
- LucíaMuchas gracias, eres muy amable.Thank you very much, you are very kind.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cortar, césped, el, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
