brear
“brear” means “to pester” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to pester, to tease
Also: to badger, to exhaust
📝 In Action
Mis amigos me brean a bromas cada vez que me ven.
B1My friends pester me with jokes every time they see me.
El sol nos breó durante toda la caminata.
B2The sun beat down on us and exhausted us during the whole walk.
No me brees con tantas preguntas, por favor.
C1Don't badger me with so many questions, please.
to pitch, to tar
📝 In Action
Los trabajadores tienen que brear el casco del barco para impermeabilizarlo.
C1The workers have to tar the ship's hull to waterproof it.
Antiguamente se breaban las costuras de las cubiertas de madera.
C2In the old days, the seams of wooden decks were pitched.
Es necesario brear la superficie antes de que empiece la lluvia.
C1It is necessary to tar the surface before the rain starts.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: brear
Question 1 of 3
What does 'Me están breando a llamadas' mean?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Derived from the noun 'brea' (pitch/tar), which likely comes from the Old French 'breis' or Germanic roots related to 'resin'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'brear' used in Latin America?
Yes, though it is much more frequent in Spain. In Latin America, you might hear 'fregar' or 'fastidiar' more often for 'pestering'.
Can 'brear' be used for physical exhaustion?
Yes, especially regarding the weather. 'El calor nos está breando' means the heat is exhausting or beating down on us.
Is 'brear' a vulgar word?
No, it is informal but not vulgar. It's safe to use in casual conversation with friends or family.