ordeñar
Lemma Details
Translation: to milk; to extract; to squeeze out
Part of Speech: verb
Etymology: Derived from Latin 'ordināre' meaning 'to put in order, arrange', which evolved to refer to the methodical process of extracting milk from animals. The English word 'ordain' shares the same Latin root, though their meanings diverged significantly. While 'ordain' took on ceremonial and appointment meanings, 'ordeñar' specialized in the extraction process.
Commonality: 40%
Guessability: 20%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
El granjero ordeña las vacas cada mañana.
The farmer milks the cows every morning.
La empresa está ordeñando sus recursos hasta agotarlos.
The company is milking its resources until they're exhausted.
Aprendí a ordeñar cabras en la granja de mi abuelo.
I learned to milk goats on my grandfather's farm.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'order' + 'ñar' - you need to put your hands in order (systematic motion) to milk a cow.
- The 'ñ' in 'ordeñar' looks like milk squirting from an udder.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In rural Spanish-speaking regions, 'ordeñar' is a common agricultural term. It has also taken on metaphorical meanings in business contexts, similar to the English expression 'to milk something for all it's worth'.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Ordeñar' means 'to milk' while 'ordenar' means 'to order' or 'to arrange'. They look and sound very similar, differing only by the ñ/n.
Confused word:
La madre ordena a sus hijos que limpien sus habitaciones.
The mother orders her children to clean their rooms.
Notes: Both words actually share the same Latin root 'ordināre', but evolved to have different meanings.
Mnemonic: The 'ñ' in 'ordeñar' looks like milk dripping, while the 'n' in 'ordenar' is straight like items in order.