sobrar
Lemma Details
Translation: to be left over; to remain; to be in excess; to be superfluous; to be unnecessary
Part of Speech: verb
Etymology: From Latin 'superare' meaning 'to rise above' or 'to exceed', which comes from 'super' meaning 'above' or 'over'. This shares the same Latin root as English words like 'superfluous', 'superior', and 'surplus'. The semantic evolution from 'rising above' to 'being in excess' is quite logical - what rises above the necessary amount becomes excess or leftover.
Commonality: 80%
Guessability: 40%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Me sobran cinco euros del presupuesto.
I have five euros left over from the budget.
Siempre sobra comida después de las fiestas.
There's always food left over after parties.
Si sobra dinero, podemos ir al cine.
If there's money left over, we can go to the movies.
Tus comentarios sobran en esta conversación.
Your comments are unnecessary in this conversation.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'sobrar' as related to 'sobre' (over/above) - what is 'over' the necessary amount is what 'sobra'.
- Connect it to English 'superfluous' - both refer to excess amounts.
- Imagine a 'sober' person at a party who doesn't drink - they're left over when everyone else is drunk.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking cultures, the concept of 'sobrar' is often used in food contexts, where offering abundant food to guests is considered hospitable. Saying 'sobró comida' (food was left over) after a gathering is common and often implies the host provided more than enough, which is viewed positively.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'sobrar' means 'to be left over' or 'to be in excess', 'sobrevivir' means 'to survive'. Both start with 'sobr-' but have different meanings and uses.
Notes: The prefix 'sobre-' in 'sobrevivir' means 'over' in the sense of 'overcoming', while in 'sobrar' it relates to 'excess'.
Mnemonic: 'Sobrar' is about excess (extra), while 'sobrevivir' has 'vivir' (to live) in it, indicating survival.
Explanation: 'Sobrar' means 'to be left over' while 'cobrar' means 'to charge' or 'to collect payment'. They sound similar but have completely different meanings.
This word:
Siempre sobra dinero a fin de mes.
There's always money left over at the end of the month.
Notes: These verbs often appear in financial contexts but with opposite implications: 'cobrar' is about receiving money owed, while 'sobrar' is about having excess money.
Mnemonic: 'Cobrar' starts with 'C' for 'Collect' money, while 'Sobrar' starts with 'S' for 'Surplus'.