Inklingo

How to Say "to inter" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “to inter” is “enterrar” — use 'enterrar' when talking about burying something in the ground, whether it's a body, an object, or even figuratively like burying a secret..

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enterrar

en-teh-RRAHR/en.teˈrar/

verbB1general
Use 'enterrar' when talking about burying something in the ground, whether it's a body, an object, or even figuratively like burying a secret.
A simple illustration showing a small brown wooden box partially buried in the soil, with a silver shovel standing upright nearby.

Examples

El perro siempre entierra sus huesos en el jardín.

The dog always buries his bones in the garden.

Van a enterrar los cables eléctricos para que no se vean.

They are going to bury the electrical cables so they aren't visible.

Decidieron enterrar a la abuela junto a su esposo.

They decided to inter the grandmother next to her husband.

Stem-Change Warning

In the present tense, the 'e' in the stem changes to 'ie' (e.g., 'entierro', 'entierras'). This pattern skips the 'we' (nosotros) and 'you all' (vosotros) forms, which stay regular: 'enterramos'.

Forgetting the Stem Change

Mistake: “Yo enterraba la evidencia.”

Correction: Yo enterré la evidencia. (Using the correct preterite form, or 'Yo entierro' for present tense.)

sepultar

/seh-pool-TAHR//se.pulˈtaɾ/

verbB1formal
Use 'sepultar' specifically for the act of burying a deceased person as part of a funeral rite or ceremony.
A wooden casket being lowered into a hole in the ground in a peaceful cemetery.

Examples

Decidieron sepultar a su abuelo en el cementerio del pueblo.

They decided to bury their grandfather in the village cemetery.

El faraón fue sepultado con todos sus tesoros.

The pharaoh was interred with all his treasures.

Es un honor sepultar a los héroes en el panteón nacional.

It is an honor to lay heroes to rest in the national pantheon.

Using the 'Personal A'

Since this word usually involves a person (the one being buried), you must use the word 'a' before the person's name or title, like 'Sepultaron a la reina'.

A Regular Pattern

Good news! This verb follows the standard pattern for all '-ar' verbs, so there are no surprise spelling changes in any tense.

Formal vs. Informal

Mistake: “Using 'sepultar' when talking about burying a pet in the backyard.”

Correction: Use 'enterrar' for everyday situations. 'Sepultar' sounds a bit too much like a royal funeral for a hamster!

General vs. Formal Burial

The most common mistake is using the formal 'sepultar' for everyday actions like a dog burying bones. Reserve 'sepultar' for the solemn act of burying a person.

Related Translations

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