ensangrentar
“ensangrentar” means “to stain with blood” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to stain with blood
Also: to cover in blood
📝 In Action
El carnicero se ensangrentó el delantal mientras trabajaba.
B2The butcher stained his apron with blood while he worked.
No quiero ensangrentar la alfombra blanca.
B2I don't want to get blood on the white rug.
La herida ensangrentó rápidamente su camisa.
B2The wound quickly stained his shirt with blood.
to bathe in blood
Also: to involve in bloodshed
📝 In Action
La guerra civil ensangrentó al país durante una década.
C1The civil war bathed the country in blood for a decade.
No permitas que el odio ensangriente nuestra historia.
C2Do not allow hatred to stain our history with blood.
La revolución ensangrentó las calles de la capital.
C1The revolution brought bloodshed to the streets of the capital.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: ensangrentar
Question 1 of 3
Which form of 'ensangrentar' is correct for 'I stain'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Spanish prefix 'en-' (to cause to be in) combined with 'sangre' (blood), ultimately from the Latin 'sanguis'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'ensangrentar' common in daily life?
Not really. You'll hear it more in news about accidents, in history books, or in crime novels. For a small cut at home, people might just say 'manchar con sangre'.
Does it change its spelling in the past tense?
No, the stem change (e to ie) only happens in the present tense (and some imperative/subjunctive forms). In the past tense (preterite), the 'e' stays as 'e': yo ensangrenté.
Can I use it for other liquids like wine?
No, 'ensangrentar' specifically comes from the word 'sangre' (blood). For wine, you would use 'manchar con vino'.