balancear
“balancear” means “to rock” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to rock, to swing
Also: to sway
📝 In Action
La madre balancea la cuna para que el bebé se duerma.
A2The mother rocks the cradle so the baby falls asleep.
El viento balanceaba las ramas de los árboles con suavidad.
B1The wind was gently swinging the branches of the trees.
No te balancees en la silla, te vas a caer.
A2Don't rock back and forth in your chair, you're going to fall.
to balance, to offset
Also: to counterpoise
📝 In Action
Necesitamos balancear la carga del camión.
B1We need to balance the load of the truck.
Es importante balancear los carbohidratos con proteínas.
B1It's important to balance carbohydrates with proteins.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "balancear" in Spanish:
to balance→to counterpoise→to offset→to rock→to sway→to swing→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: balancear
Question 1 of 3
How would you say 'The wind is rocking the boat'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the noun 'balance' (scale), which comes from Vulgar Latin 'bilancia', derived from the Latin 'bis' (two) and 'lanx' (plate or scale pan). It literally refers to something having two plates to find equilibrium.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use 'balancear' for my bank account?
Yes, but it is more common to use 'cuadrar las cuentas' or 'hacer el balance'. However, 'balancear el presupuesto' (to balance the budget) is perfectly understood.
What's the difference between 'balancear' and 'mecer'?
'Mecer' is almost always used for gentle, soothing rocking (like a baby or someone in a hammock). 'Balancear' is more general and can describe everything from a pendulum to a swinging ship.
Is 'balancear' a common word?
Yes! It is used frequently in both everyday conversation (rocking a chair) and more technical talks (balancing weight).