Spanish Conversation · Level 41
75 words
Spanish word
cuajar
Pronunciation
IPA/kwaˈxaɾ/
Meaning
- verbset
Example
La gelatina cuaja en la nevera.
The gelatin sets in the fridge.
More examples
¿Esa idea cuajó en la reunión?
Did that idea take hold at the meeting?
Core concept
A plan falling neatly into place.
Common phrases
la gelatina cuaja
the gelatin sets
cuajar al enfriarse
set on cooling
cuajar bien
take hold well
Similar words
solidificar: A material solidifies into a rigid, dimensionally stable form by cooling or a chemical reaction.
espesar: A sauce or liquid becomes noticeably thicker and less runny as moisture decreases.
Definition in Spanish
Pasar de un estado blando o líquido a uno firme, o asentarse y consolidarse en sentido figurado.
Word origin
Derived via cuajo from Latin coagulare, the verb acquires a figurative sense of things consolidating or succeeding as they 'set' into shape.
Usage tips
- When cuajar means 'succeed', it commonly appears as cuajó or no cuajó to say an idea or project took hold or failed to do so.
Other meanings
- coagulateverb
- succeedverb
Opposites
- licuarliquefyverb
- fracasarfailverb
Related words
- cuajadacurdnoun
- cuajadosolidifiedadjective