sacudir
/sakuˈdiɾ/
The English phrase 'to dust' is translated into Spanish as sacudir.
sacudir means to remove dust from the surface of furniture or other objects. It can also mean 'to shake'.
Which one should you use?
While sacudir means 'to shake' or 'to dust', it is often used with the direct object el polvo (the dust) to specify the action of dusting. Additionally, the reflexive form sacudirse is used when a person is shaking something off their own body, such as dust or dirt.
How do you pronounce it?
/sakuˈdiɾ/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, sacudir is used figuratively to mean 'to surprise' or 'to shock' someone, as if they have been physically shaken.
- While sacudir describes the action of dusting, the Spanish word for a duster is often plumero, which literally translates to 'little feather'.
- The verb sacudir can be used to describe a sudden, violent movement of the earth during an earthquake, such as la tierra se sacudió.
Examples in context
- Es necesario limpiar el polvo de los muebles regularmente.It's necessary to dust the furniture regularly.
- Por favor, asegúrese de quitar el polvo de los estantes antes de la reunión.Please make sure to dust the shelves before the meeting.
- Necesito sacudir el polvo de mis libros antes de leerlos.I need to dust off my books before reading them.
- No te olvides de desempolvar los muebles antes de la visita.Don't forget to dust the furniture before the visit.
- ¿Me puedes ayudar a empolvar los estantes de la sala?Can you help me dust the shelves in the living room?
- Tienes que sacudir los muebles.You have to dust the furniture.
- Tengo que sacudir los estantes hoy.I have to dust the shelves today.
- ¿Puedes sacudir los muebles de la sala?Can you dust the living room furniture?
- Ella usa un paño para sacudir la mesa.She uses a cloth to dust the table.
Example conversation
Alejandro and María are cleaning their apartment together.
- AlejandroMaría, ¿podrías sacudir la televisión?María, could you dust the television?
- MaríaSí, Alejandro, lo haré ahora mismo.Yes, Alejandro, I will do it right now.
- AlejandroGracias, la sala se ve muy sucia.Thanks, the living room looks very dirty.
- MaríaNo te preocupes, terminaré pronto.Don't worry, I will finish soon.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry sacudir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
