To put something over something else
Encoding Strategies:
linguistic
cover
to put over
+
-ir
verb suffix
Cubrir means to cover and is a cognate of the same English word.
cubrir
to cover
When you lay something over something else.
Cubrí el sofá con una sábana antes de pintarI covered the sofa with a sheet before painting
La nieve cubría todo el jardínThe snow covered the whole garden
to cover up, to conceal
When you hide a mistake or wrongdoing by covering it up.
Intentaron cubrir el escándalo con una donaciónThey tried to cover up the scandal with a donation
El político cubrió su error con una mentiraThe politician concealed his mistake with a lie
to cover (protect)
When you protect someone, as if covering them with something that protects them.
Los soldados cubrían a sus compañeros durante la retiradaThe soldiers covered their comrades during the retreat
El defensa tiene que cubrir al delanteroThe defender has to cover the forward
to cover, to meet (costs, needs)
When money or resources are enough to pay for a cost or a need, covering it completely.
El seguro cubre los gastos del hospitalThe insurance covers the hospital costs
Este sueldo no cubre nuestras necesidades básicasThis salary doesn't meet our basic needs
to fill (a position)
When you fill an empty job or post, covering the gap it left.
Ya cubrieron la vacante de recepcionistaThey already filled the receptionist opening
Necesitamos a alguien que cubra el turno de nocheWe need someone to fill the night shift
to cover (distance)
When you travel a distance, you cover that stretch of ground from one end to the other.
Cubrimos diez kilómetros antes del mediodíaWe covered ten kilometers before noon
El tren cubre la ruta en tres horasThe train covers the route in three hours
to cover (news)
When a reporter follows an event closely to report on it, covering everything that happens.
Una periodista cubrió el partido desde el estadioA journalist covered the match from the stadium
¿Qué canal va a cubrir las elecciones?Which channel is going to cover the elections?
to shower with (something in abundance)
When you give someone so much of something they're covered in it.
La abuela cubrió de besos a su nietoThe grandmother showered her grandson with kisses
El público cubrió de aplausos a la cantanteThe audience showered the singer with applause
cubrirse
to cover up, to bundle up
When you cover yourself with something, like a blanket.
Cúbrete bien, que hace mucho fríoCover up well, it's very cold out
Se cubrió con una manta y se quedó dormidaShe bundled up in a blanket and fell asleep
to cover oneself (from blame)
When you protect yourself from blame or risk ahead of time, as if covering yourself with something that protects you.
La empresa se cubrió con un contrato muy detalladoThe company covered itself with a very detailed contract
Guarda todos los recibos para cubrirteKeep all the receipts to cover yourself
to become covered
When something ends up covered in something, literally “covering itself” in it.
El campo se cubrió de nieve durante la nocheThe field became covered in snow overnight (the field covered itself of snow)
El lago se cubrió con una capa de hieloThe lake became covered with a layer of ice (the lake covered itself with a layer of ice)
to cloud over (sky)
When the sky clouds over, it covers itself.
El cielo se cubrió y empezó a lloverThe sky clouded over and it started to rain
Por la tarde se cubrió y bajó la temperaturaIn the afternoon it clouded over and the temperature dropped