curar
/koo-RAHR/
to cure
Curar: to cure (a disease or illness).
curar(verb)
to cure
?a disease or illness
,to heal
?a wound or injury
to treat
?a patient or injury
📝 In Action
El médico curó la infección con antibióticos.
A1The doctor cured the infection with antibiotics.
Necesitas curar esa herida para que no se infecte.
A2You need to heal that wound so it doesn't get infected.
El niño se curó de la gripe muy rápido.
A2The child recovered (healed himself) from the flu very quickly.
💡 Grammar Points
Active vs. Reflexive
When you actively heal someone or something, use 'curar' (El doctor cura). When a person or thing heals itself or recovers, use the reflexive form 'curarse' (La herida se curó).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'curar' for objects
Mistake: "Curé mi coche roto."
Correction: Reparé mi coche roto. ('Curar' is usually reserved for living things or wounds, use 'reparar' for machines.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Focus on the Process
While 'curar' means to cure/heal completely, 'tratar' (to treat) focuses more on the ongoing care provided.
Curar: to remedy (a problem or situation).
curar(verb)
to remedy
?a problem or situation
,to soothe
?emotional pain or sadness
to mend
?a broken heart or spirit
📝 In Action
El tiempo cura todas las penas.
B1Time heals all sorrows.
Esperamos que este acuerdo cure las tensiones entre las naciones.
B2We hope this agreement remedies the tensions between the nations.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with Time
This meaning is often seen in the expression 'El tiempo lo cura todo' (Time cures/heals everything).
Curar: to cure (meat or fish using salt or smoke).
curar(verb)
to cure
?meat or fish (using salt or smoke)
,to age
?cheese or wine
to preserve
?food for long storage
📝 In Action
El jamón serrano debe curarse durante muchos meses.
B2Serrano ham must be cured for many months.
Están curando el queso en una cueva fría.
B2They are aging the cheese in a cold cave.
⭐ Usage Tips
Past Participle as Adjective
The past participle 'curado' is often used as an adjective to describe preserved foods: 'jamón curado' (cured ham) or 'queso curado' (aged cheese).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: curar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'curar' in the culinary sense?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre 'curar' y 'sanar'?
Both mean 'to heal' or 'to cure.' 'Curar' often emphasizes the action taken by a doctor or treatment (someone cures something). 'Sanar' often emphasizes the natural process of recovery or getting well (the wound heals itself). They are often interchangeable, but 'curar' is more widely used for medical intervention.
Does 'curar' always require an object?
If you are actively curing a disease or a person, yes (curar la enfermedad). But when you talk about recovery, you use the reflexive form 'curarse,' where the subject is also the object (Me curé, I cured myself/recovered).