Inklingo

How to Say "to mine" in Spanish

English → Spanish

extraer

eks-tra-ehreks.tɾaˈeɾ

verbB1general
Use 'extraer' when referring to the removal or drawing out of natural resources like oil, gold, or even a tooth, emphasizing the act of taking something out.
A hand pulling a single carrot out of the soil in a garden.

Examples

Los geólogos quieren extraer el oro de la mina.

The geologists want to extract the gold from the mine.

El dentista tuvo que extraer la muela del juicio.

The dentist had to pull out the wisdom tooth.

Están extrayendo petróleo en esta zona.

They are extracting oil in this area.

Es difícil extraer una astilla tan pequeña.

It is difficult to remove such a small splinter.

The 'Yo' Form Change

In the present tense, the 'I' form adds a 'g' and becomes 'extraigo'. This is because it follows the same pattern as the word 'traer' (to bring).

The 'J' in the Past

When talking about the past (preterite), the letter 'e' changes to 'j'. So, instead of saying 'extraió', you must say 'extrajo'.

Avoid 'Extrayó'

Mistake: “El médico extrayó la bala.”

Correction: El médico extrajo la bala. (In the past, this word always uses a 'j'.)

minar

mee-NAHRmiˈnaɾ

verbB1general
Choose 'minar' specifically for the process of excavating minerals like coal or ore from the earth, or for the act of mining digital currencies like Bitcoin.
A miner with a pickaxe standing next to a pile of sparkling gold nuggets inside a dark cave.

Examples

La empresa va a minar diamantes en Sudáfrica.

The company is going to mine diamonds in South Africa.

Muchos hombres trabajaban para minar el carbón de la montaña.

Many men used to work to mine the coal from the mountain.

El ejército decidió minar la frontera para proteger la zona.

The army decided to lay mines at the border to protect the area.

Es difícil minar metales preciosos en este terreno.

It is difficult to mine precious metals in this terrain.

A regular -ar verb

Minar follows the standard pattern for -ar verbs like 'hablar' or 'cantar,' so you don't need to learn any special stem changes.

The 'Mirar' Confusion

Mistake: “Yo mino el paisaje.”

Correction: Yo miro el paisaje (I look at the landscape). Minar means to mine, not to look!

explotar

eks-plo-TAReks.ploˈtaɾ

verbB1general
Use 'explotar' when you mean to utilize or develop a resource, especially for economic benefit, like renewable energy sources, rather than physically extracting it from the ground.
A smiling person carefully collecting ripe apples from a heavily laden apple tree and placing them into a large woven basket, representing resource utilization.

Examples

Debemos explotar el potencial turístico de la costa.

We must exploit the tourist potential of the coast.

Necesitamos explotar las energías renovables de la región.

We need to utilize the region's renewable energy sources.

El director supo explotar su talento para la música.

The director knew how to capitalize on his talent for music.

La compañía va a explotar un nuevo yacimiento de cobre.

The company is going to mine a new copper deposit.

Different meanings

Remember that 'explotar' can mean 'to blow up' or 'to use/utilize.' The context will tell you which one is correct. If it’s about resources, it means utilization.

Confusing Extraction vs. Utilization

Learners often confuse 'extraer' (to extract) and 'explotar' (to exploit/utilize). Remember, 'extraer' focuses on the physical removal of something from its source, while 'explotar' implies making use of a resource, often for profit.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.