How to Say "to burn" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “to burn” is “arder” — A2 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
English → SpanishA2
verbA2
to be on fire or very hot
Examples
La leña arde en la chimenea.
The firewood is burning in the fireplace.
Ten cuidado, el metal arde bajo el sol.
Be careful, the metal is burning hot under the sun.
A lo lejos, las luces de la ciudad parecían arder.
In the distance, the city lights seemed to glow.
Arder vs. Quemar
Use 'arder' when something is simply on fire or feels hot. Use 'quemar' when something is actively destroying or hurting something else with heat.
Confusing 'to burn something'
Mistake: “Ardí el papel.”
Correction: Quemé el papel. Use 'quemar' if you are the one doing the burning to an object.
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