aburrir
Lemma Details
Translation: to bore; to tire; to weary; to annoy
Part of Speech: verb
Etymology: Aburrir comes from Latin 'abhorrere', meaning 'to shrink back from in horror', which was formed from 'ab-' (away from) and 'horrere' (to bristle, shudder). Over time, the meaning evolved from 'to abhor' to 'to bore' in Spanish. It shares the same Latin root as English 'abhor', though their meanings have diverged significantly. While 'abhor' retained the sense of strong dislike or repulsion, 'aburrir' shifted to express causing or experiencing tedium or boredom.
Commonality: 80%
Guessability: 30%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think of 'a-burr-ir' - like having an irritating burr stuck to you that makes you bored and annoyed.
- Connect it to English 'abhor' but remember the meaning shifted from 'hate' to 'bore'.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking cultures, expressing boredom directly can sometimes be considered impolite, especially in formal settings. The reflexive form 'aburrirse' is very commonly used to express one's own state of boredom.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'aborrir' is an archaic form that meant 'to abhor' or 'to detest', 'aburrir' means 'to bore'. 'Aborrir' is rarely used in modern Spanish.
Confused word:
Aborrezco las mentiras. (using 'aborrecer', the modern form of 'aborrir')
I abhor lies.
Notes: In modern Spanish, 'aborrecer' has replaced the archaic 'aborrir' to express strong dislike.
Mnemonic: 'Aburrir' has a single 'r' in the middle and relates to boredom; 'aborrir/aborrecer' has a double 'r' and relates to hatred.
Explanation: 'Aburrir' means 'to bore' while 'abrir' means 'to open'. They look similar but have completely different meanings and conjugations.
Confused word:
Voy a abrir la ventana.
I'm going to open the window.
Notes: 'Abrir' is an irregular verb while 'aburrir' follows regular -ir verb conjugation patterns.
Mnemonic: 'Abrir' is shorter and means 'to open' (think: brief action); 'aburrir' is longer and means 'to bore' (think: prolonged feeling).