menear
“menear” means “to wag” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to wag, to shake
Also: to swing
📝 In Action
El perro menea la cola cuando está feliz.
A1The dog wags its tail when it is happy.
Ella menea las caderas al caminar.
A2She swings her hips as she walks.
No menees la cabeza así, que me mareas.
B1Don't shake your head like that, you're making me dizzy.
to stir
📝 In Action
Menea la sopa para que no se queme.
A2Stir the soup so it doesn't burn.
Tienes que menear bien el café para disolver el azúcar.
B1You have to stir the coffee well to dissolve the sugar.
Estaba meneando la pintura con un palo.
B1He was stirring the paint with a stick.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: menear
Question 1 of 3
Which animal is most likely to 'menear la cola'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Vulgar Latin 'minari', which originally meant 'to drive animals by threatening them'. Over time, the meaning shifted from the act of driving animals to the physical movement associated with it.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use 'menear' for moving furniture?
Not usually. For moving heavy objects from one place to another, 'mover' or 'trasladar' is better. 'Menear' implies a repetitive, shaky, or rhythmic movement.
Is 'menear' the same as 'agitar'?
They are close, but 'agitar' is more like a vigorous shake (like a medicine bottle), while 'menear' is often more rhythmic or gentle (like a tail wag or stirring a pot).
Is it rude to use 'menear'?
Generally, no. However, 'menear las caderas' can be descriptive of someone's dance moves or walk, so use it carefully depending on the context.