Spanish word

hinchar

Pronunciation

IPA/inˈtʃaɾ/

Meaning

  • verbinflate

Example

Voy a hinchar el globo.

I'm going to inflate the balloon.

Illustration for hinchar (inflate)

More examples

¿Puedes hinchar este neumático con la bomba?

Can you inflate this tire with the pump?

Core concept

Upper lip puffed up after a punch.

Common phrases

  • hinchar un globo

    inflate a balloon

  • hinchar el neumático

    inflate the tire

Similar words

inflar: Fills an object with air or gas so it expands and becomes firm.
soplar: Blows air into or across something using breath or moving air.
hincharse: Becomes swollen from the inside, especially a body part after injury or allergy.

Definition in Spanish

Aumentar de tamaño por acumulación interna, especialmente referido a partes del cuerpo que se hinchan por golpe, alergia o infección.

Word origin

Derived from Latin inflāre 'to blow into', hinchar moves into Spanish with the meaning 'to swell' and the reflexive hincharse is standard for bodily swelling.

Usage tips

  • English speakers often expect a possessive, but Spanish prefers the reflexive construction with the definite article for recent swelling (se me ha hinchado la boca rather than mi boca está hinchada).

Other meanings

  • swellverb
  • cause to swellverb

Opposites

  • desinflardeflateverb
  • deshincharlet air outverb

Related words

Word lists with this word