How to Say "burning" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “burning” is “quemando” — use 'quemando' when you are actively in the process of setting something on fire or when something is currently on fire as an action..
quemando
/keh-MAHN-doh//keˈmando/
Examples
Estoy quemando las fotos viejas.
I am burning the old photos.
El sol me está quemando los hombros.
The sun is burning my shoulders.
Estás quemando mucha gasolina en ese coche.
You are burning through a lot of gas in that car.
The '-ando' Ending
In Spanish, the ending '-ando' is like the English '-ing'. Use it with the word 'estar' (to be) to talk about things happening right this second.
Don't use it for 'hot'
Mistake: “Using 'quemando' to describe hot soup.”
Correction: Use 'hirviendo' (boiling) or 'muy caliente' (very hot). 'Quemando' implies the soup is actually on fire or causing a physical burn right now.
ardiendo
/ar-DYEN-doh//aɾˈðjen̪.do/
Examples
El motor de la máquina estuvo ardiendo por unos segundos.
The machine's engine was burning for a few seconds.
Llegamos a la casa y la chimenea ya estaba ardiendo.
We arrived at the house and the fireplace was already blazing (burning).
¿Qué está ardiendo? Huele a humo.
What is burning? It smells like smoke.
Forming Continuous Tenses
Use 'ardiendo' with a conjugated form of 'estar' (to be) to show that the action of burning is ongoing: 'está ardiendo' (it is burning).
Invariable Form
This form never changes. It is always 'ardiendo,' regardless of whether the subject is singular or plural, masculine or feminine.
Confusing Ser and Estar
Mistake: “La leña es ardiendo.”
Correction: La leña está ardiendo. (Use 'estar' for temporary, ongoing actions like this.)
ardiente
ar-DYEN-teh/aɾˈðjen.te/
Examples
El sol del desierto era tan ardiente que tuvimos que buscar sombra.
The desert sun was so scorching that we had to look for shade.
Las brasas ardientes todavía estaban rojas.
The burning embers were still red.
Adjective Position
Like most descriptive adjectives, 'ardiente' usually goes after the noun it modifies: 'una llama ardiente' (a burning flame).
quema
KAY-mah/ˈke.ma/
Examples
La quema de pastizales está prohibida en verano.
The burning of grasslands is prohibited in the summer.
Hubo una quema de basura que causó mucha contaminación.
There was a burning of trash that caused a lot of pollution.
El agricultor prepara la quema para limpiar el campo.
The farmer prepares the controlled burn to clear the field.
Gender Reminder
Remember that 'quema' is feminine ('la quema'), even though it ends in '-a' and relates to fire (like 'el fuego').
encendida
/en-sen-DEE-dah//ensenˈdiða/
Examples
La televisión está encendida pero nadie la está mirando.
The television is on, but nobody is watching it.
Dejaste la luz de la cocina encendida toda la noche.
You left the kitchen light on all night.
Using the 'State' Verb
Use this word with 'estar' because being 'on' is a temporary state, not a permanent personality trait.
Matching the Noun
This specific form 'encendida' is only used for feminine, singular words like 'la lámpara' or 'la computadora'.
Using 'en' for 'on'
Mistake: “La luz está en.”
Correction: La luz está encendida.
Verb vs. Noun: quemando/ardiendo vs. quema
Related Translations
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