transportar
Lemma Details
Translation: to transport; to carry; to move; to convey; to transfer
Part of Speech: verb
Etymology: From Latin 'transportare', composed of 'trans' (across) and 'portare' (to carry). The English cognate 'transport' shares the same Latin root. The word literally means 'to carry across' or 'to carry from one place to another'. This connection to physical movement across space helps understand its primary meaning of conveying people or goods from one location to another.
Commonality: 80%
Guessability: 90%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
El camión transporta mercancías a la ciudad.
The truck transports goods to the city.
Necesitamos transportar a los pasajeros al aeropuerto.
We need to transport the passengers to the airport.
La música me transporta a otro mundo.
Music transports me to another world.
Las arterias transportan sangre desde el corazón.
Arteries transport blood from the heart.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'trans' (across) + 'port' (like a shipping port) = moving things across distances
- Remember the English word 'transport' which looks and means almost exactly the same thing
- Visualize a 'porter' carrying luggage across ('trans') a hotel lobby
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking countries, 'transportar' is commonly used in discussions about public transportation systems, which are vital in urban areas. The concept of 'transporte público' (public transportation) is central to daily life in many Spanish-speaking cities where metro systems, buses, and other forms of mass transit are heavily utilized.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While both mean 'to move' or 'to transfer', 'transportar' typically refers to physically carrying or moving objects or people, while 'trasladar' can also refer to transferring in a more abstract sense, such as transferring information or relocating people to new positions.
Confused word:
Trasladaron la oficina al nuevo edificio.
They relocated the office to the new building.
Notes: 'Transportar' often implies using a vehicle or means of transportation, while 'trasladar' can be more general.
Mnemonic: 'Transportar' contains 'port' like 'porter' (someone who carries), while 'trasladar' sounds like 'translate', suggesting movement across contexts.
Explanation: 'Transportar' refers to physical movement of objects or people, while 'transmitir' means 'to transmit' or 'to broadcast' information, diseases, or signals.
Notes: Both share the prefix 'trans-' meaning 'across', but refer to different types of movement.
Mnemonic: 'Transmitir' contains 'mit' like 'emit' or 'transmit' in English, suggesting sending signals rather than physical objects.