yacer
lie
Definition & meaning
Yacer is an intransitive Spanish verb meaning “to lie,” “to be lying,” or “to rest” in a particular place or position.
It is used especially in formal, literary, or solemn contexts:
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To be lying down or resting
- El herido yace en la cama. — “The injured person is lying in bed.”
-
To lie dead or be buried
- Sus restos yacen en el cementerio. — “His remains lie in the cemetery.”
-
To be situated or located, usually in a literary or formal style
- La antigua ciudad yace bajo las aguas. — “The ancient city lies beneath the waters.”
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To exist or be present, often figuratively
- La solución yace en la cooperación. — “The solution lies in cooperation.”
Grammar & Word origin
Yacer is an irregular, intransitive verb. It normally does not take a direct object.
Common forms include:
- yo yazco — I lie / I am situated
- tú yaces — you lie
- él/ella yace — he/she lies
- ellos yacen — they lie
- yacía — was lying
- yació — lay / was lying
- yaciendo — lying
It comes from the Latin verb iacēre, meaning “to lie” or “to be at rest.”
The related noun yacimiento means “deposit,” “site,” or “discovery site,” especially in archaeology, geology, or mining.
Synonyms & antonyms
Depending on the context, synonyms include:
- estar tendido — “to be lying down”; more descriptive and less formal.
- reposar — “to rest”; emphasizes rest rather than simply being in a position.
- hallarse — “to be situated” or “to be found”; more general and neutral.
- estar sepultado — “to be buried”; specifically refers to a dead person or remains.
- radicar — “to lie in” or “to reside in”; generally used for abstract causes or locations.
Possible antonyms, depending on the sense, are:
- levantarse — “to get up,” opposite of lying down.
- erguirse — “to stand upright” or “to rise.”
- moverse — “to move,” contrasting with remaining still.
Common phrases & collocations
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Examples
El perro yacía bajo el sol en el patio.verb
The dog lay under the sun in the yard.
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