Inklingo

How to Say "grind" in Spanish

English → Spanish

rutina

roo-TEE-nah/ruˈtina/

nounB1general
Use 'rutina' when referring to the monotonous, tiring, and repetitive nature of daily work or tasks.
A sad, gray-colored character standing dejectedly inside a deep, circular rut carved into the dirt ground, illustrating a feeling of being stuck in a monotonous loop.

Examples

Estoy harto de la rutina de la oficina; necesito un cambio.

I'm fed up with the office grind; I need a change.

Estoy cansado de la rutina de la oficina; necesito un cambio.

I'm tired of the office grind; I need a change.

Su vida se ha convertido en una rutina sin sorpresas.

His life has turned into a rut without surprises.

matado

mah-TAH-doh/maˈtaðo/

adjective/nounC1informal
Use 'matado' to describe a person, often a student, who studies or works excessively to the point of exhaustion.
A storybook illustration of a person sitting happily in a chair, surrounded by towering stacks of books, reading intently.

Examples

No salgas con él; es un matado que solo piensa en estudiar.

Don't go out with him; he's a grinder who only thinks about studying.

Dejamos de ser amigos porque se volvió un matado y no tenía tiempo para fiestas.

We stopped being friends because he became a grind and had no time for parties.

Used as a Noun

In this specific context, 'matado' often acts as a noun to refer to the person itself ('un matado'), rather than just describing them.

Person vs. Task

The most common mistake is confusing 'matado' (a person who grinds) with 'rutina' (the grind of a task). Remember, 'matado' describes the individual, while 'rutina' describes the repetitive work itself.

Related Translations

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