Inklingo

How to Say "to divide" in Spanish

English → Spanish

compartir

/kom-par-TEER//kom.paɾˈtiɾ/

verbA1general
Use 'compartir' when you are sharing something with others, giving a portion of what you have to someone else.
Two friendly children sitting at a small table, happily dividing a brightly colored apple between them.

Examples

Yo siempre comparto mi almuerzo con mi hermana.

I always share my lunch with my sister.

¿Podemos compartir un taxi para ir al aeropuerto?

Can we share a taxi to go to the airport?

Ellos comparten un pequeño apartamento en el centro.

They share a small apartment downtown.

Direct Use

Unlike some Spanish verbs, 'compartir' is usually followed directly by the thing being shared (e.g., 'compartir la pizza').

Using 'con' incorrectly

Mistake: “Voy a compartir con el pastel. (I am going to share with the cake.)”

Correction: Voy a compartir el pastel. (I am going to share the cake.) Use 'con' only for the person you share *with*.

partir

/par-TEER//paɾˈtiɾ/

verbA1general
Use 'partir' when you are physically cutting or breaking something into pieces or sections.
A hand holding a knife cutting a single red apple exactly in half on a wooden cutting board.

Examples

Necesito partir el pastel en ocho rebanadas iguales.

I need to cut the cake into eight equal slices.

Partieron la leña para la chimenea antes de la cena.

They split the firewood for the fireplace before dinner.

Ellos partieron la herencia entre los tres hermanos.

They divided the inheritance among the three siblings.

Transitive Use

In this sense, 'partir' is transitive, meaning the action directly affects something. You must always say what you are dividing or splitting.

separar

seh-pah-RAHR/sepaˈɾaɾ/

verbA1general
Use 'separar' when you are distinguishing or setting things apart into different groups or categories.
A pair of hands gently moving two different groups of colorful marbles away from each other on a wooden surface.

Examples

Tienes que separar la ropa blanca de la de color.

You have to separate the white clothes from the colored ones.

Estamos separando la basura para reciclar.

We are sorting the trash to recycle.

El profesor separó a los dos alumnos que estaban hablando.

The teacher separated the two students who were talking.

Using 'con' and 'de'

When separating one thing from another, use 'de' (from). For example: 'separar la sal del azúcar' (to separate the salt from the sugar).

Separar vs. Partir

Mistake: “Using 'partir' for sorting items.”

Correction: Use 'separar' when you are organizing items into different piles; use 'partir' when you are breaking or cutting one single item into pieces.

Sharing vs. Cutting vs. Grouping

The most common mistake is using 'compartir' (to share) when you actually mean to physically cut something into pieces ('partir') or to sort items into groups ('separar'). Remember: 'compartir' implies giving something to others, while 'partir' and 'separar' focus on the physical division or sorting of an object or items.

Related Translations

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