seca
/SEH-kah/
dry
Seca (dry): A leaf lacking moisture.
seca(adjective)
dry
?lacking moisture
,thin
?referring to a person's build (figurative)
arid
?land or climate
,blunt
?a sharp, unfriendly response
📝 In Action
La ropa ya está completamente seca. Podemos guardarla.
A1The clothes are already completely dry. We can put them away.
Ella es muy seca con sus respuestas, no le gusta hablar mucho.
B1She is very blunt (or sharp) with her answers; she doesn't like to talk much.
Necesitas regar la planta; la tierra está muy seca.
A2You need to water the plant; the soil is very dry.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement
Remember that 'seca' is the feminine form. If you are describing a masculine object (like 'el suelo'), you must use 'seco'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Adjective and Verb
Mistake: "Using 'seca' (adjective) when you mean the action of drying (verb)."
Correction: Make sure your sentence structure requires a descriptive word, not an action word. 'La pared está seca' (The wall is dry). 'La secadora seca la pared' (The dryer dries the wall).
Seca (she/he/it dries): The sun dries the laundry.
seca(verb)
she/he/it dries
?present tense action
,dry (command)
?affirmative command to 'tú' (informal you)
you (formal) dry
?present tense for 'usted'
📝 In Action
¡Seca la mesa antes de que se manche!
A2Dry the table before it stains!
Mi secadora de pelo seca el cabello muy rápido.
A2My hairdryer dries hair very quickly.
Ella siempre seca los platos inmediatamente después de lavarlos.
A2She always dries the dishes immediately after washing them.
💡 Grammar Points
Spelling Change in Commands and Past Tense
Because 'secar' ends in -car, the 'c' changes to 'qu' when followed by 'e' (like in the past tense 'yo sequé' or the special forms for wishes, 'que seque') to keep the hard 'k' sound.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Reflexive Form
Mistake: "Saying 'Yo seco' when you mean 'I dry myself' (like after a shower)."
Correction: Use the reflexive form for drying oneself: 'Me seco con la toalla' (I dry myself with the towel). The simple form 'secar' usually means drying an object.
⭐ Usage Tips
Command Form
The word 'seca' is the quick, informal command you would give to a friend or child to tell them to dry something.
Seca (drought): A long spell of dry weather causes the riverbed to crack.
seca(noun)
drought
?a long dry spell
,dry season
?meteorological period
sharp hit/stroke
?in certain games or sports (regional)
📝 In Action
La cosecha se perdió por la gran seca de este verano.
B1The harvest was lost due to the great drought this summer.
Estamos esperando las lluvias para que termine la seca.
B1We are waiting for the rains for the dry spell to end.
💡 Grammar Points
Noun/Adjective Distinction
When used as a noun, it almost always refers to a weather event (drought). The more common word for 'drought' is 'sequía', but 'seca' is widely understood, especially regionally.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: seca
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'seca' as a command?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'seca' (noun) and 'sequía'?
'Sequía' is the standard, most common noun for 'drought.' 'Seca' is also used for 'drought' or 'dry spell,' often regionally or to describe a specific season, but 'sequía' is the safest choice in formal writing.
When does 'seca' mean 'blunt' or 'cold'?
When describing a person's demeanor or response, 'seca' (or 'seco') means they are abrupt, unfriendly, or sharp in their communication, lacking warmth or politeness.