sanar
to heal
verb sah-NAHR Rare
Origin: Latin sanare (to heal), from sanus (healthy).
Also means
to recover
Usage Note
Sanar can be used transitively (el médico sanó al paciente — the doctor healed the patient) or intransitively (la herida sanó rápido — the wound healed quickly). It covers both physical healing and emotional recovery: sanar el alma (to heal the soul) is a common expression in self-help and spiritual discourse. Unlike curar, which emphasises a medical cure, sanar often implies a more holistic or gradual restoration of wholeness.
Examples
"La herida tardó semanas en sanar."
Natural Translation
The wound took weeks to heal.
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