Inklingo

How to Say "hides" in Spanish

English → Spanish

esconde

/es-KOHN-deh//esˈkon.de/

verbA2
Use 'esconde' when someone or something is actively putting an object out of sight, often to conceal it from others.
A cartoon badger is hiding a bright red apple underneath a large green leaf on the forest floor.

Examples

Mi perro siempre esconde sus juguetes debajo del sofá.

My dog always hides his toys under the sofa.

Ella esconde la verdad sobre su viaje.

She is hiding the truth about her trip.

¡Esconde el pastel antes de que llegue tu hermano!

Hide the cake before your brother arrives!

Dual Role of 'Esconde'

This single form means both 'he/she/it hides' (telling a fact) and 'Hide!' (giving an informal command to one person, Tú).

Hiding Oneself

To say 'he/she hides himself/herself,' you must add 'se' before the verb: 'Se esconde' (He/She hides).

Hiding Secrets vs. Objects

Mistake: “Using 'esconde' only for physical objects when talking about secrets.”

Correction: 'Esconde' works perfectly for both physical objects and abstract things like secrets ('Esconde un secreto').

cubre

KOO-breh/ˈkuβɾe/

verbA1
Use 'cubre' when the action is about placing something over or on top of another thing, like a lid or a protective layer.
A square blue cloth draped completely over a small, round yellow ball on a wooden table.

Examples

Ella siempre cubre la comida con papel de aluminio.

She always covers the food with aluminum foil.

¡Cubre la mesa antes de empezar a pintar!

Cover the table before starting to paint!

La nieve cubre todo el paisaje.

The snow covers the entire landscape.

Dual Role of 'Cubre'

'Cubre' has two main uses: it describes what 'he, she, or it' does now (Present Tense), and it is the informal command 'You, cover!'

Irregular Past Participle

Mistake: “Using *cubrido* instead of *cubierto* when forming perfect tenses (like 'has covered').”

Correction: Always use the irregular form: 'Ha cubierto' (He has covered).

oculta

oh-COOL-tah/oˈkul.ta/

verbA2
Use 'oculta' when referring to the act of keeping something secret or hidden, especially emotions or intentions.
A cartoon fox carefully pushing a shiny gold coin underneath a large green leaf on the ground.

Examples

Ella oculta su tristeza detrás de una sonrisa.

She hides her sadness behind a smile.

¡Oculta el regalo antes de que entre tu hermano!

Hide the gift before your brother comes in!

El árbol oculta la casa desde la carretera.

The tree conceals the house from the road.

Identifying the Subject

Since 'oculta' is the same for 'él' (he), 'ella' (she), and 'usted' (formal you), Spanish speakers often include the person's name or pronoun for clarity.

Confusing the Verb and Adjective

Mistake: “Using 'oculta' when describing a masculine noun (e.g., *el secreto oculta*).”

Correction: Use the masculine form 'oculto' for masculine nouns (e.g., *el secreto está oculto*). 'Oculta' is only the verb form or the feminine adjective.

pieles

/pyeh-less//ˈpjeles/

nounA2
Use 'pieles' when referring to animal skins, especially when processed for use in clothing or leather goods, or as different skin types for cosmetic purposes.
A close-up illustration showing three distinct layers of skin in different shades of tan and brown.

Examples

Hay cremas para diferentes tipos de pieles.

There are creams for different skin types.

Las pieles de los animales son muy resistentes.

Animal hides are very tough.

Making it Plural

Since the singular word 'piel' ends in a consonant (l), we add '-es' to make it plural, resulting in 'pieles'.

Singular vs. Plural

Mistake: “Using 'pieles' to talk about a single person's skin.”

Correction: Use the singular 'piel'. Use 'pieles' only when talking about different categories of skin or multiple animal hides.

Verb vs. Noun Confusion

Learners often confuse the verb 'hides' (to conceal) with the noun 'hides' (animal skins). Remember that 'esconde' and 'oculta' are verbs meaning to conceal, while 'pieles' is a noun referring to skins.

Related Translations

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