reparar
Lemma Details
Translation: to repair; to fix; to mend; to notice; to observe; to pay attention to
Part of Speech: verb
Etymology: From Latin 'reparare', composed of 're-' (again) + 'parare' (to prepare, make ready). The English word 'repair' shares this same Latin origin. The dual meaning in Spanish (both 'to fix' and 'to notice') evolved from the original sense of 'making something ready again' and 'preparing one's attention toward something'.
Commonality: 80%
Guessability: 90%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Necesito reparar mi coche.
I need to repair my car.
No reparé en ese detalle.
I didn't notice that detail.
El técnico reparó la lavadora ayer.
The technician fixed the washing machine yesterday.
Debes reparar en las consecuencias de tus acciones.
You should pay attention to the consequences of your actions.
Mnemonics
- Think of 're-pairing' broken parts back together to remember the 'repair' meaning.
- For the 'notice' meaning, imagine 'preparing' your eyes to see something (re-pare your vision).
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking countries, 'reparar' is commonly used both for physical repairs and for noticing things. The phrase 'reparar en' specifically means 'to notice' or 'to pay attention to', which might not be immediately obvious to English speakers familiar only with the 'repair' meaning.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'reparar' means 'to repair' or 'to notice', 'preparar' means 'to prepare'. They look and sound similar but have different meanings.
Confused word:
Voy a preparar la cena.
I'm going to prepare dinner.
Notes: The confusion often stems from the English cognate 'prepare' looking more like 'reparar' than 'preparar'.
Mnemonic: 'Reparar' has one 'p' and is about fixing one thing; 'preparar' has two 'p's and is about getting things ready.
Explanation: 'Reparar' means to fix or notice, while 'deparar' means to provide or offer (usually referring to fate, life, or circumstances).
Notes: Both verbs are regular -ar verbs but have completely different meanings and contexts.
Mnemonic: Think of 'deparar' as 'de-part' - to part with something to give it to someone else.