aspirar el suelo
/aspiɾaɾ el swelo/from spelling rules
To vacuum the floor in Spanish is aspirar el suelo.
The phrase is used to describe the action of cleaning a floor using a vacuum cleaner. Another common way to express this action is pasar la aspiradora, which literally translates to 'to pass the vacuum cleaner'.
What does it mean word for word?
The verb aspirar literally means 'to inhale' or 'to suck in', which describes the physical action of the vacuum cleaner.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase follows a structure similar to English by using the definite article el (the) before suelo (floor).
Did you know?
- The verb aspirar is also used when someone has a strong ambition or goal, such as wanting to 'aspire' to a specific job or rank.
- The word suelo comes from the Latin 'solum', which is the same root for the English word 'soil'.
- The word suelo is versatile enough to describe the indoor floor of a living room and the outdoor ground of the earth.
Examples in context
- Por favor, aspire el suelo antes de la visita de los invitados.Please vacuum the floor before the guests arrive.
- No olvides pasar la aspiradora por debajo de los muebles.Don't forget to vacuum under the furniture.
- Pasa la aspiradora en todas las habitaciones.Vacuum all the rooms.
- Tengo que aspirar el suelo de la sala.I have to vacuum the living room floor.
- Tengo que aspirar el suelo hoy.I have to vacuum the floor today.
- ¿Puedes aspirar el suelo, por favor?Can you vacuum the floor, please?
- Ella va a aspirar el suelo ahora.She is going to vacuum the floor now.
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are discussing the household chores.
- LucíaJavier, ¿puedes aspirar el suelo?Javier, can you vacuum the floor?
- JavierSí, lo haré después de comer.Yes, I will do it after eating.
- LucíaGracias, la sala está muy sucia.Thanks, the living room is very dirty.
- JavierNo hay problema, Lucía.No problem, Lucía.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aspirar, el, suelo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
