arder

to burn

verb ahr-DEHR Rare

Also means

to sting, to smart

Usage Note

Arder is intransitive — things or people arden (burn, are on fire) but you use quemar when you burn something transitively ('she burned the papers'). It also covers the sensation of stinging or smarting — me arden los ojos ('my eyes are stinging'). The noun ardor (m) captures both senses: burning sensation and passion.

Examples

"La herida le ardía terriblemente."

Natural Translation

The wound burned terribly.

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