barajar las cartas
/baɾaxaɾ las kaɾtas/from spelling rules
To shuffle cards in Spanish is barajar las cartas.
This phrase is used to describe the action of mixing a deck of playing cards so that they are in a random order.
Which one should you use?
You can also use the synonym barajar el mazo when you are referring specifically to the deck of cards.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb barajar is a regular -ar verb. For example, in the preterite (past) tense, the first-person singular form is barajé, as in barajé las cartas (I shuffled the cards).
How do you pronounce it?
/baɾaxaɾ las kaɾtas/
Did you know?
- The verb barajar comes from an old word meaning 'to quarrel' or 'to dispute'. It seems the chaotic mixing of a deck of cards was once seen as a form of noisy argument.
- While English speakers use a 'French-suited' deck, the traditional baraja española uses suits like oros (coins), copas (cups), espadas (swords) and bastos (clubs).
- The phrase barajar las cartas can be used metaphorically to describe the act of weighing different options or rearranging a set of ideas before making a decision.
Examples in context
- Usted puede mezclar las cartasYou can shuffle the cards
- Mezcla bien las cartasShuffle the cards well
- Baraja unas cuantas veces antes de repartirShuffle a few times before dealing
- Mezcla bien las cartas para obtener una distribución equitativa.Shuffle the cards well to achieve a fair distribution.
- Revuelve el mazo unas cuantas veces antes de repartir.Shuffle the deck a few times before dealing.
- Baraja las cartas antes de repartir.Shuffle the cards before dealing.
- Es necesario barajar las cartas antes de repartir.It is necessary to shuffle the cards before dealing.
- ¿Puedes barajar las cartas, por favor?Can you shuffle the cards, please?
- No olvides barajar las cartas para la siguiente ronda.Don't forget to shuffle the cards for the next round.
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are playing a game at a cafe.
- MateoLucía, ¿puedes barajar las cartas?Lucía, can you shuffle the cards?
- LucíaSí, claro, las barajo ahora mismo.Yes, of course, I am shuffling them right now.
- MateoGracias, ya me toca repartir a mí.Thanks, it is my turn to deal now.
- LucíaVale, prepárate para perder.Okay, get ready to lose.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries barajar, las, CC BY-SA 4.0.
