verb

tragar

swallow

Hacer que algo pase desde la boca hacia dentro del cuerpo, generalmente un alimento o bebida.

Definition & meaning

Tragar usually means to swallow: to make food, drink, or another substance pass from the mouth down the throat.

It also has several figurative meanings:

To put up with or tolerate something unpleasant: tragarse una humillación — “to swallow/endure a humiliation.”
To believe or accept something, sometimes reluctantly or naively: tragarse una mentira — “to fall for a lie.”
Informally, to dislike someone: no tragar a alguien — “not be able to stand someone.”
In some contexts, it can mean to consume or use up something, especially a large amount.

Grammar & Word origin

Tragar is a regular, transitive -ar verb. It can take a direct object: tragar comida (“swallow food”). The reflexive form tragarse often emphasizes that something is swallowed or accepted completely: tragarse una pastilla (“swallow a pill”) or tragarse una excusa (“accept an excuse”).

The word is traditionally linked to Latin tragāre, though its deeper origin is uncertain. It consists of the verb stem trag- and the infinitive ending -ar.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms vary by meaning:

For swallowing: engullir suggests swallowing quickly or greedily; deglutir is more technical or formal.
For tolerating: soportar and aguantar mean to endure or put up with something, without the same “swallowing” imagery.
For believing or accepting: creer is neutral, while aceptar focuses on agreeing to or receiving something.
For disliking someone: detestar [?](vocabuo://word/detestar] means to hate or strongly dislike, and is generally more forceful.

Possible antonyms depend on the sense:

Escupir — “to spit out”; the physical opposite of swallowing.
Rechazar — “to reject”; an opposite when tragar means to accept or believe something.