exagerar
/eɡsaxeˈɾaɾ/
To play up in Spanish is exagerar.
Meaning: to misbehave (verb)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the expression darle caña is used to mean 'to play with intensity' or 'to give it your all'.
How do you pronounce it?
/eɡsaxeˈɾaɾ/
Did you know?
- The word exagerar comes from the Latin exaggerāre, which originally meant to heap up or build a mound of earth.
- Spanish has a dedicated noun, un exagerado, to describe a person whose entire personality is defined by a habit of making mountains out of molehills.
- In some Latin American countries, the phrase hacer berrinche describes a child 'playing up' by throwing a temper tantrum, which carries a much more specific emotional connotation than the English term.
Examples in context
- Por favor, evite exagerar los movimientos al interpretar la danza.Please avoid exaggerating the movements when performing the dance.
Example conversation
Alejandro is talking to Lucía about her younger brother.
- Alejandro¿Cómo se portó tu hermano hoy?How did your brother behave today?
- LucíaSe puso a exagerar todo el tiempo.He started playing up the whole time.
- Alejandro¿Por qué crees que lo hizo?Why do you think he did it?
- LucíaCreo que solo quiere llamar la atención.I think he just wants to get attention.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry exagerar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries exagerar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
