quemar

to burn

verb keh-MAHR Less Common

Usage Note

Quemar is transitive ('to burn something') but the reflexive quemarse means 'to burn oneself' or 'to get sunburnt.' The idiom quemarse las pestañas (literally 'to burn one's eyelashes') means to study very hard. Quemar is also used colloquially for burning a CD/DVD or burning out emotionally.

Examples

"No dejes que se queme la comida."

Natural Translation

Don't let the food burn.

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