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rodeo

rroh-DEH-ohroˈðeo

detour, roundabout way

Also: evasiveness
NounmB1
General
A winding dirt path curving around a large fallen tree in a lush forest.

📝 In Action

Había obras en la calle y tuvimos que dar un rodeo.

A2

There was construction on the street and we had to take a detour.

Dímelo ya y no me vengas con rodeos.

B1

Tell me already and don't beat around the bush with me.

El taxista tomó un rodeo innecesario para cobrar más.

B2

The taxi driver took an unnecessary detour to charge more.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • desvío (detour)
  • evasiva (excuse/evasion)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • dar un rodeo – to take a detour
  • sin rodeos – straight to the point
  • dejarse de rodeos – to stop beating around the bush

Idioms & Expressions

  • ir con rodeos – to avoid being direct or honest

rodeo

Also: roundup
NounmA2
Mexico
A cowboy riding a brown horse in a wooden fenced arena.

📝 In Action

Mucha gente fue al rodeo para ver a los vaqueros.

A2

Many people went to the rodeo to see the cowboys.

El rodeo es una tradición muy importante en Texas.

A1

The rodeo is a very important tradition in Texas.

Mañana empieza el rodeo anual de la ciudad.

B1

The city's annual rodeo starts tomorrow.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • jaripeo (bull riding event (Mexico))

Common Collocations

  • asistir a un rodeo – to attend a rodeo
  • monta de toros – bull riding

I surround, I go around

VerbA2regular ar
A person standing in the center of a circle of small colorful flowers.
gerundrodeando
past Participlerodeado
infinitiverodear

📝 In Action

Yo rodeo la casa para entrar por detrás.

A2

I go around the house to enter through the back.

Rodeo el dibujo con una línea roja.

B1

I circle the drawing with a red line.

Siempre rodeo los charcos para no mojarme.

A2

I always go around puddles to avoid getting wet.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • circundar (to encircle)

Antonyms

Subjunctive

Imperfect Subjunctive

yorodeara
túrodearas
él/ella/ustedrodeara
nosotrosrodearamos
vosotrosrodearais
ellos/ellas/ustedesrodearan

Present Subjunctive

yorodee
túrodees
él/ella/ustedrodee
nosotrosrodeemos
vosotrosrodeéis
ellos/ellas/ustedesrodeen

Indicative

Preterite

yorodeé
túrodeaste
él/ella/ustedrodeó
nosotrosrodeamos
vosotrosrodeasteis
ellos/ellas/ustedesrodearon

Imperfect

yorodeaba
túrodeabas
él/ella/ustedrodeaba
nosotrosrodeábamos
vosotrosrodeabais
ellos/ellas/ustedesrodeaban

Present

yorodeo
túrodeas
él/ella/ustedrodea
nosotrosrodeamos
vosotrosrodeáis
ellos/ellas/ustedesrodean
View All Tenses & Moods →

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✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: rodeo

Question 1 of 3

What does someone mean if they tell you: 'No me vengas con rodeos'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Spanish verb 'rodear' (to surround), which comes from 'rueda' (wheel), originating from the Latin word 'rota'.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: rotateFrench: roue

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'rodeo' the same in English and Spanish?

Yes and no. In English, it almost always refers to the cowboy sport. In Spanish, while it can mean the sport, it is much more frequently used to mean 'a detour' or 'being indirect.'

What is the difference between 'rodeo' and 'rodeó'?

'Rodeo' (no accent) means 'I surround' (present) or a 'detour' (noun). 'Rodeó' (with an accent) means 'he/she/it surrounded' (past tense).

How do I say 'without further ado' in Spanish using this word?

A very natural way is to say 'sin más rodeos.'