How to Say "to sink" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to sink” is “hundir” — use 'hundir' when you mean to submerge something in a liquid, most commonly a ship or boat going underwater..
hundir
/oon-DEER//unˈdiɾ/
Examples
El barco empezó a hundir después de chocar con el iceberg.
The ship began to sink after hitting the iceberg.
El pirata intentó hundir el barco enemigo.
The pirate tried to sink the enemy ship.
Me gusta hundir los pies en la arena tibia.
I like to sink my feet into the warm sand.
Tienes que hundir el botón con fuerza para que funcione.
You have to push the button down hard for it to work.
Using it with yourself
When things sink on their own (like a ship or a person in water), we often add 'se' to the end: 'El barco se hundió' (The boat sank itself).
Physical Action
In Spanish, this word covers both the natural act of sinking and the intentional act of pushing something down into a soft surface.
Sinking vs. Falling
Mistake: “Using 'hundir' for falling through the air.”
Correction: Use 'caer' for falling. 'Hundir' specifically implies going into or under a surface like water, mud, or a cushion.
sumir
/soo-MEER//suˈmiɾ/
Examples
La crisis económica sumió al país en la pobreza.
The economic crisis plunged the country into poverty.
La muerte de su perro lo sumió en una gran tristeza.
The death of his dog plunged him into a great sadness.
Las deudas pueden sumir a una empresa en la quiebra.
Debts can sink a company into bankruptcy.
El escándalo sumió al país en una crisis política.
The scandal plunged the country into a political crisis.
Using the word 'en'
When you use 'sumir' to say someone is being plunged into a state, you must follow it with the word 'en' (in/into).
Adding 'se' for personal feelings
If you want to say someone is sinking into their own thoughts or feelings, use the reflexive form 'sumirse' (adding 'se' to the end).
Confusing sumir and sumar
Mistake: “Yo sumo a mi amigo en la tristeza.”
Correction: Yo sumo (from sumar) means 'I add'. Use 'Yo sumí' or 'Yo sumerjo' if you mean sinking or plunging.
enterrar
en-teh-RRAHR/en.teˈrar/
Examples
Es hora de enterrar nuestras diferencias y trabajar juntos.
It's time to bury our differences and work together.
Es hora de enterrar el hacha de guerra y hacer las paces.
It is time to bury the hatchet and make peace.
Ella prefiere enterrar sus problemas en lugar de enfrentarlos.
She prefers to hide her problems instead of facing them.
El escándalo enterró la carrera política del candidato.
The scandal sank the candidate's political career.
Figurative Use
When used figuratively, 'enterrar' means more than just hiding; it implies putting something away permanently, making it disappear from your life or memory.
Literal vs. Figurative Sinking
Related Translations
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