sumergir
“sumergir” means “to submerge” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to submerge
Also: to dip, to soak
📝 In Action
Debes sumergir los tomates en agua hirviendo.
A2You should dip the tomatoes in boiling water.
El submarino se empezó a sumergir lentamente.
B1The submarine began to submerge slowly.
Sumergí mi cabeza en la piscina para refrescarme.
B1I dipped my head in the pool to cool off.
to immerse oneself
Also: to plunge into
📝 In Action
Me gusta sumergirme en un buen libro los domingos.
B1I like to immerse myself in a good book on Sundays.
La ciudad se sumergió en el caos tras el apagón.
B2The city was plunged into chaos after the blackout.
Se sumergió en sus pensamientos y no me oyó entrar.
B2He was lost in his thoughts and didn't hear me come in.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: sumergir
Question 1 of 3
Which of these is the correct 'yo' form in the present tense?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'submergere', which combines 'sub' (under) and 'mergere' (to dip or plunge). It's related to the English word 'merge', but with the sense of going underneath.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'sumergir' the same as 'bucear'?
No. 'Bucear' specifically means 'to scuba dive' or 'to snorkel' as a sport or activity. 'Sumergir' is simply the action of putting something or someone under water.
Can I use 'sumergir' for food?
Yes! It's very common in recipes, like 'sumergir las legumbres en agua' (soaking legumes in water).
Why does the spelling change in 'sumerja'?
Spanish spelling rules try to keep the sound of the word the same. Since 'g' sounds soft like 'h' in 'sumergir', but hard like 'g' in 'gas' before an 'a', we switch to 'j' to keep that soft 'h' sound.