podar arbustos
/podaɾ aɾbustos/from spelling rules
To trim bushes in Spanish is podar arbustos.
The phrase is used when describing the act of cutting away overgrown branches or leaves from shrubs to keep them neat. When performing this task, you might use tijeras de podar (shears) to cut the ramas (branches).
Which one should you use?
While you can say podar arbustos, another common alternative is recortar arbustos, which emphasizes the act of clipping or shaping the edges of the bushes. It is important to note that the verb podar is more specific than the general verb cortar (to cut). While cortar can mean cutting anything, podar specifically refers to the maintenance of plants or trees.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the continuous action of trimming bushes, use the gerund form podando arbustos.
How do you pronounce it?
/podaɾ aɾbustos/
Did you know?
- The verb podar shares a distant ancestor with the English word 'compute'. Both come from the Latin putāre, which meant to prune or clean, and later evolved to mean 'settle an account' or 'calculate'.
- If a bush is trimmed too aggressively or ruined by poor clipping, some Latin American speakers use the verb mutilar.
- In many Spanish-speaking regions, if you are trimming a very large tree instead of a bush, you might switch from podar to desmochar, which specifically means to lop off the top or the tips.
Examples in context
- Quisiera que recortaran los arbustos en el jardín de forma uniforme.I would like the bushes in the garden to be trimmed evenly.
- Por favor, poda los arbustos de manera que no tapen la entrada de luz.Please prune the bushes so that they don't block the sunlight.
- ¿Podrías cortar los arbustos que están sobrepasando el límite del jardín?Could you cut the bushes that are exceeding the garden boundary?
- Tengo que podar los arbustos del jardín.I have to trim the bushes in the garden.
- Necesito podar arbustos en el jardín.I need to trim bushes in the garden.
- Mañana vamos a podar arbustos.Tomorrow we are going to trim bushes.
- ¿Puedes ayudarme a podar arbustos?Can you help me trim bushes?
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are talking about garden chores.
- SofíaMateo, el jardín se ve muy descuidado.Mateo, the garden looks very neglected.
- MateoTienes razón, voy a podar arbustos ahora.You are right, I am going to trim bushes now.
- SofíaGracias, se verá mucho mejor así.Thanks, it will look much better that way.
- MateoTraeré las tijeras del garaje.I will bring the shears from the garage.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries podar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
