enterrar
/en-teh-RRAHR/
to bury
When someone decides to literalmente enterrar something, they bury it under the ground.
enterrar(Verb)
to bury
?placing something under the ground
,to inter
?formal term for burying a body
to cover up
?hiding something completely
📝 In Action
El perro siempre entierra sus huesos en el jardín.
A2The dog always buries his bones in the garden.
Van a enterrar los cables eléctricos para que no se vean.
B1They are going to bury the electrical cables so they aren't visible.
Decidieron enterrar a la abuela junto a su esposo.
B1They decided to inter the grandmother next to her husband.
💡 Grammar Points
Stem-Change Warning
In the present tense, the 'e' in the stem changes to 'ie' (e.g., 'entierro', 'entierras'). This pattern skips the 'we' (nosotros) and 'you all' (vosotros) forms, which stay regular: 'enterramos'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Stem Change
Mistake: "Yo enterraba la evidencia."
Correction: Yo enterré la evidencia. (Using the correct preterite form, or 'Yo entierro' for present tense.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Memory Trick
Think of the verb 'to close' (cerrar), which has the same E > IE stem change. This helps you remember the pattern for 'enterrar'.
Metaphorically, enterrar can mean to bury or forget a problem or conflict, putting it permanently out of sight.
enterrar(Verb)
to forget (a problem)
?put an end to a conflict
,to hide (a secret)
?concealing information
to sink
?to cause something to fail or disappear (less common)
📝 In Action
Es hora de enterrar el hacha de guerra y hacer las paces.
C1It is time to bury the hatchet and make peace.
Ella prefiere enterrar sus problemas en lugar de enfrentarlos.
C1She prefers to hide her problems instead of facing them.
El escándalo enterró la carrera política del candidato.
C2The scandal sank the candidate's political career.
💡 Grammar Points
Figurative Use
When used figuratively, 'enterrar' means more than just hiding; it implies putting something away permanently, making it disappear from your life or memory.
⭐ Usage Tips
Focus on the Idiom
The phrase 'enterrar el hacha de guerra' is the most common figurative use, meaning 'to bury the hatchet'—a perfect match to the English idiom!
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: enterrar
Question 1 of 2
Which form of 'enterrar' is correct for 'We bury the time capsule' (Nosotros...)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'enterrar' always used for burying a person, or can it be used for objects?
'Entarrar' is commonly used for both people (interring a body) and objects (burying treasure, bones, or cables). It's a very versatile verb.
How do I remember the stem change (e > ie)?
The stem change only happens when the stress falls on the stem (the 'en-ter-' part). Since the stress shifts to the last syllable for 'nosotros' and 'vosotros' (enterRAmos, enterRÁis), those forms remain regular.