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arder

ar-DEHR/arˈðer/

to burn

Also: to glow
VerbA2regular er
A single wooden log with bright orange and yellow flames rising from it.
gerundardiendo
past Participleardido
infinitivearder

📝 In Action

La leña arde en la chimenea.

A2

The firewood is burning in the fireplace.

Ten cuidado, el metal arde bajo el sol.

B1

Be careful, the metal is burning hot under the sun.

A lo lejos, las luces de la ciudad parecían arder.

B2

In the distance, the city lights seemed to glow.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • quemarse (to burn oneself/be burning)
  • incendiarse (to catch fire)

Antonyms

  • apagarse (to go out/be extinguished)

Common Collocations

  • arder en llamas – to be in flames
  • quemar y arder – to burn and sting

to sting

Also: to smart
VerbB1regular er
A close-up of a person's knee with a small red scrape being cleaned with a drop of liquid.
gerundardiendo
past Participleardido
infinitivearder

📝 In Action

Me arden los ojos por el humo.

B1

My eyes are stinging because of the smoke.

El alcohol arde cuando toca la herida.

B1

Alcohol stings when it touches the wound.

Siento que me arde la garganta.

A2

I feel like my throat is burning/sore.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • picar (to itch/sting)
  • escocer (to smart/sting)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • arder la piel – for the skin to sting
  • arder la herida – for the wound to smart

to burn (with emotion)

Also: to be consumed by
VerbC1regular er
A stylized character with a very determined expression and bright glowing eyes.
gerundardiendo
past Participleardido
infinitivearder

📝 In Action

Arde en deseos de conocer la verdad.

C1

He is burning with desire to know the truth.

Su corazón arde de pasión.

B2

His heart burns with passion.

La ciudad ardía de impaciencia por el festival.

C1

The city was burning with impatience for the festival.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • congelarse (to freeze (metaphorically))

Common Collocations

  • arder de rabia – to burn with rage
  • arder de envidia – to burn with envy

Idioms & Expressions

  • aquí va a arder Troya – there's going to be a huge fight or trouble

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesardieran
yoardiera
túardieras
vosotrosardierais
nosotrosardiéramos
él/ella/ustedardiera

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesardan
yoarda
túardas
vosotrosardáis
nosotrosardamos
él/ella/ustedarda

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesardieron
yoardí
túardiste
vosotrosardisteis
nosotrosardimos
él/ella/ustedardió

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesardían
yoardía
túardías
vosotrosardíais
nosotrosardíamos
él/ella/ustedardía

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesarden
yoardo
túardes
vosotrosardéis
nosotrosardemos
él/ella/ustedarde
View All Tenses & Moods →

🔀 Commonly Confused With

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "arder" in Spanish:

to burn→to glow→to smart→to sting→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: arder

Question 1 of 3

Which verb should you use if YOU light a piece of paper on fire?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
ardiente(burning/passionate) — Adjective
ardor(burning sensation/passion) — Noun
ardid(trick/ruse) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'ardēre', which simply means to be on fire or to burn.

First recorded: 12th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: ardentFrench: ardre

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'arder' for a fever?

Yes! You can say 'arde en fiebre' to describe someone with a very high, burning fever.

Is 'arder' regular in all tenses?

Yes, 'arder' follows the standard pattern for verbs ending in -er (like 'comer') in every tense.

What is the difference between 'picar' and 'arder'?

'Picar' is more like an itch or the sting of a mosquito. 'Arder' is a hot, burning sting, like a sunburn or alcohol on a cut.