Spanish word

erizar

Pronunciation

IPA/eɾiˈθaɾ/

Meaning

  • verbmake someone's hair stand on end

Example

La historia me erizó la piel.

The story made my hair stand on end.

Illustration for erizar (make someone's hair stand on end)

More examples

Esa canción me eriza la piel cada vez que la escucho.

That song makes my skin stand on end every time I hear it.

Core concept

Hairs standing up over gooseflesh.

Common phrases

  • se eriza la piel

    The skin stands on end

  • se me erizaron los pelos

    My hair stood on end

Similar words

poner la piel de gallina: Create visible goosebumps on the skin, typically from cold or a strong sensation.
poner los pelos de punta: Make the hairs on the body stand up, producing a sharp, tingling or chilly feeling.
estremecer: Produce a strong tremor or shiver in the body or emotions from intense feeling.
asustar: Frighten or startle someone, causing sudden fear or alarm.

Definition in Spanish

Causar que la piel o el vello se erice, provocando un escalofrío físico o emocional.

Word origin

The verb derives from Spanish erizo 'hedgehog' plus the verbal suffix -ar, originally comparing raised hair to a hedgehog's bristles.

Usage tips

  • Typically transitive: something eriza la piel and the affected person is marked by an indirect-object pronoun (me, te, le), with context showing whether the reaction is literal or figurative.

Opposites

Related words

  • erizadobristledadjective

Word lists with this word