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vaivén

swaying

noun bah-ee-BEN Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Manner

Also means

swing, back-and-forth motion

Usage Note

Vaivén derives from the phrase va y viene ('goes and comes'), condensed into a single noun — a vivid example of lexicalised motion in Spanish. The plural is vaivenes, and the word is widely used figuratively: los vaivenes de la política ('the ups and downs of politics'). The written accent on the final syllable marks the irregular stress.

Examples

"El vaivén del barco me mareó."

Natural Translation

The swaying of the boat made me dizzy.

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