quema
/KAY-mah/
burning
As a noun, quema means 'burning'—the action or process of fire.
quema(noun)
burning
?the action or process of fire
,blaze
?a large fire
controlled burn
?agricultural or forest management
,bonfire
?large ceremonial fire (regional)
📝 In Action
La quema de pastizales está prohibida en verano.
B1The burning of grasslands is prohibited in the summer.
Hubo una quema de basura que causó mucha contaminación.
A2There was a burning of trash that caused a lot of pollution.
El agricultor prepara la quema para limpiar el campo.
B2The farmer prepares the controlled burn to clear the field.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Reminder
Remember that 'quema' is feminine ('la quema'), even though it ends in '-a' and relates to fire (like 'el fuego').
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
If you hear 'la quema,' it usually refers to a specific, often large, instance of burning, especially in the context of land clearing or protests.
Quema, as a verb, translates to 'he/she/it burns' in the present tense.
quema(verb)
he/she/it burns
?present action
,you burn
?formal present action (usted)
you (formal) burn
?command (imperative)
,it is hot
?figurative/impersonal use: 'aquí quema'
📝 In Action
El sol quema mucho después del mediodía.
A1The sun burns (is very hot) a lot after noon.
Ella siempre quema el arroz cuando cocina.
A2She always burns the rice when she cooks.
Usted quema todas las calorías si corre una hora.
B1You (formal) burn all the calories if you run for an hour.
💡 Grammar Points
The Meaning of This Form
The word 'quema' is the form used when talking about 'he,' 'she,' 'it,' or the formal 'you' (usted) doing the action of burning right now (present tense).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing the Noun and Verb
Mistake: "Usando 'el quema' (The burn, masculine)"
Correction: Use 'la quema' (The burn, feminine noun) or 'él quema' (He burns, verb form). The presence of 'la' or 'el' changes the meaning completely.
⭐ Usage Tips
Using 'Se Quema'
Often, you will hear 'se quema' meaning 'it is burning' or 'it is getting burned,' emphasizing that the action is happening to an object, like 'La comida se quema' (The food is burning).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: quema
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'quema' as a noun (the thing or action itself)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'quema' is the noun or the verb?
Look at the word right before it. If you see 'la' or 'una' (feminine articles), it is the noun meaning 'the burning' or 'a blaze.' If you see 'él,' 'ella,' 'usted,' or a subject like 'el sol' (the sun), it is the verb meaning 'burns.'
Does 'quema' only mean literal burning?
No. It is often used figuratively, especially to mean 'to spend' or 'to consume,' such as 'quema energía' (it burns/uses energy) or 'quema el tiempo' (it wastes time).